World powers condemned North Korea this evening after it said it conducted an underground nuclear test and Washington sought harsh UN sanctions that could further impoverish and isolate the communist state.
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| US President George W Bush |
China, Pyongyang's strongest political and economic backer, denounced the test by its neighbor as "brazen," and urged it to avoid action that could worsen the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the test.
US President George W. Bush called it a "provocative act" that threatened international peace and security and required an immediate response from the UN Security Council.
Today's announcement by Pyongyang sharply escalated world concerns over North Korea's nuclear program and was a slap in the face for major regional and world powers engaged in six-party talks intended to prevent just such a test.
It delivered a sharp blow to Chinese President Hu Jintao's doctrine of using economic incentives and diplomatic coaxing to avert North Korea's drive to become a nuclear weapons state. Only seven states have acknowledged having nuclear weapons.
The Security Council was discussing a US proposal for tough measures including international inspections of cargo going in and out of North Korea to check for weapons of mass destruction and related materials, diplomats said.
Other proposals included a total arms embargo and a freeze on assets associated with Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction.
Britain and France said they would support sanctions. "The discussion will be on sanctions," France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said on his way into a Council session. "The time has come to have a Chapter 7 resolution."
Chapter 7 makes a resolution mandatory for all UN members and allows for sanctions and even war. But the Security Council has to state specifically what kind of action members want.
US officials were hoping countries that have been cool to sanctions like China and Russia now would be supportive.
Israel worried that Iran, already the focus of multinational efforts to curtail its nuclear program, might be emboldened to follow North Korea's lead.
"Now that North Korea has proven nuclear capabilities, it is liable to collaborate with Iran and accelerate the Iranian nuclear program," Israel's ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon told Israeli army radio.
Financial market reaction was muted, with the dollar rising to an eight-month high against the yen but oil rising slightly in New York to $59.90 a barrel despite the test and an OPEC plan to cut production. U.S. investors pushed stocks higher.
Mr Bush said North Korea had been a leading proliferator of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria, and warned Pyongyang against such a transfer of nuclear weapons.
"The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States and we would hold North Korea fully accountable for consequences of such action," he said.
Mr Bush, speaking to reporters, said he spoke by phone to leaders of China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - the other parties involved in long-stalled negotiations with North Korea - and all agreed that the test was unacceptable.
China's Hu told Mr Bush that all countries involved in the crisis should "avoid actions that may lead to escalation or loss of control of the situation," according to China's official Xinhua news agency.
The US Geological Survey said it had detected a 4.2 magnitude tremor in North Korea early this morning.
Agencies