Close on the heels of North Korea’s nuclear missile test on Friday, India, along with the United States of America, Japan South Korea and China, condemned the act. In a statement to the media, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We call upon North Korea to refrain from such actions which adversely impact peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
North Korea on Friday detonated its fifth atomic device, with Seoul and international monitors detecting unusual seismic activity near the North’s northeastern nuclear test site. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that “artificial seismic waves” from a quake measuring 5.0 were detected near the Punggye-Ri test site.
Japan and the US swiftly condemned the act with both countries considering further unilateral sanctions against North Korea. US President Barack Obama has warned of new sanctions. He reiterated the “unbreakable” US commitment to the security of allies in Asia and the world.
In fact, China too opposed the test and said it would lodge a diplomatic protest with the North Korean embassy. This test is believed to be its most powerful atomic explosion ever. China says this is a threat to its own security and will do nothing to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table on its nuclear programme.
The 5.0 magnitude earthquake Friday is the largest of the four past quakes associated with North Korean nuclear tests, according to South Korea’s weather agency. Artificial seismic waves measuring 3.9 were reported after North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006; 4.8 was reported from its fourth test this January.