President Barack Obama on Tuesday called North Korea’s latest nuclear test a “highly provocative act” that threatens U.S. security and international peace.
“The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies.”
Last month, North Korea’s National Defence Commission said the U.S. was its prime target for a nuclear test and long-range rocket launches.
“These provocations do not make North Korea more secure,” Mr. Obama said. “Far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation, North Korea has instead increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its ill-advised pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.”
UNSC meets
The U.N. Security Council was holding an emergency meeting Tuesday morning on North Korea’s nuclear test. South Korea’s U.N. Mission informed reporters early Tuesday that the closed-door meeting would begin at 1400 GMT. — AP
