On September 9, North Korea, in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, carried out another nuclear test.

Such explicit disregard for the norms of international law and the opinion of the international community merits the strongest possible condemnation.

North Korea’s actions, aimed at undermining the global non-proliferation regime, pose a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific Region. This will have negative consequences primarily for North Korea itself. We insist that the North Korean side end its dangerous and reckless misadventures, comply in good faith with all UN Security Council directives, completely abandon its nuclear missile programmes and return to the NPT regime.

Russia urges all interested parties to refrain from steps that could lead to the further escalation of tension and will be ready for the closest possible coordination of steps with the aim of formulating an international response to Pyongyang’s provocative actions.

Russia remains firmly committed to the political and diplomatic settlement of the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula through negotiations.