Statement by the Government of the Republic of Korea on North Korea’s Third Nuclear Test
1. It has been confirmed that North Korea conducted a third nuclear test on Feb. 12, 2013, at 11:57 at an area in Pung-gye-ri, North Hamgyong province, disregarding the repeated warnings of the UN Security Council and the international community. President Lee Myung-bak convened an emergency session of the National Security Council from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM and discussed the necessary measures.
2. North Korea’s nuclear test constitutes a flagrant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), and 2087 (2013). With its recent long-range missile launches, the nuclear test poses a direct challenge to the whole international community as well as an unacceptable threat to the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. North Korea will be held responsible for any consequences of this provocative act.
3. Standing firm on its consistent principle that it will not tolerate a nuclear North Korea, the ROK Government, as president of the UN Security Council for the month of February, will cooperate closely with the international community and seek all necessary measures including actions by the United Nations Security Council in order to have North Korea abandon its nuclear ambition.
4. The ROK Government will continue to maintain a high readiness posture against any possible provocation by North Korea in this time of change in administration. Moreover, in order to protect its people and their property from North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat, the ROK Government will also accelerate expanding its military capability, including deploying at an early stage its extended-range missiles, currently being developed, which cover all of North Korea.
5. The ROK Government once again strongly urges North Korea to take heed of the united warning of the international community reflected in UN Security Council resolutions and abandon its nuclear weapons and all related programs
