The United Nations Security Council has condemned North Korea's claim of a successful nuclear test on Monday. At an emergency meeting the council demanded that the communist nation immediately return to six-party talks regarding its weapons program, a UN ambassador has reported.
The United States has also said that it will seek UN sanctions to curb North Korea's import and export of material that could be used to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction, as well as its illicit financial activities.In addition, a document later presented to the press confirmed that the US had proposed a trade ban on all military and luxury items travelling into the country, as well as the power to inspect all cargo entering or leaving the country, and to freeze assets connected to North Korea's weapons programs.
Joining the US in the strict stance were Britain and France, who stated that they would jointly seek a resolution under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to request sanctions.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair also today condemned North Korea's test as a "completely irresponsible act".
Blair said the test, reportedly held at 2.36am British time, showed the country's "disregard" for the concerns of the international community.
He said: "I condemn this completely irresponsible act by the government of the DPRK (Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea).
"The international community has repeatedly urged them to refrain from both missile testing and nuclear testing.
"This further act of defiance shows North Korea's disregard for the concerns of its neighbours and the wider international community."
Mr Blair added that the test "contravened" North Korea's commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and UN Security Council Resolution 1695.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the international community would react "robustly" to the test, claimed by North Korea to have been held at an underground site in the north-east of the country.
