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Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea

The European Union strongly condemns the test of a nuclear explosive device carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 25 May 2009.

Such a test undermines stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region and represents a threat to international peace and security. It is a clear breach of the UN Security Council Resolution 1718 and of the December 1991 inter-Korean agreement. The EU consults and cooperates closely with its international partners in responding to this act.

The EU strongly urges the DPRK to refrain from any such activities, to renounce nuclear weapons and return immediately and without preconditions to the Six-Party Talks and work towards implementation of the Joint Statement of September 2005. The EU calls on the DPRK to return to compliance with the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards obligations.