North Korea Says Nuclear Status Irreversible, Rejects Test Ban Demands
North Korea's Response to International Nuclear Test Ban Pressure
Rejection of International Statement
Sept 24 (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign ministry on Thursday rejected an international statement urging it to halt nuclear tests, with a spokesperson calling it "a grave political provocation against our state" by "hostile forces".
Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Meeting
A meeting of ministers from the Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty — a grouping of Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands — said any new nuclear test by North Korea would be irresponsible and unacceptable.
The meeting in New York on Tuesday urged Pyongyang to fully comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
North Korea's Position on Nuclear Weapons
Official Statements from North Korea
The spokesperson for North Korea's foreign ministry described the country as a responsible nuclear-armed state, in a statement carried by state media KCNA.
Foreign Minister's Remarks on Irreversible Status
In another statement carried by KCNA earlier in the day, North Korea's foreign minister Choe Son Hui said Pyongyang's nuclear weapons status is irreversible.
International Reactions
Choe was responding to a separate meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week between the United States, South Korea and Japan at which they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea.
Background on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, agreed in 1996, bans "any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion" anywhere in the world, with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Barcelona; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
