Japan discusses DPRK's reported nuclear test with US, S. Korea
9/10/2006 17:04
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said today that he had discussed with
his South Korean and US counterparts the reported nuclear test by the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier in the day, Kyodo News
reported.
Aso said the three countries agreed that if the DPRK really
conducted a nuclear test, it would be a considerable threat to the peace and
stability in northeast Asia and the world.
The DPRK's official Korean Central
News Agency reported Monday morning that the country has successfully conducted
its first-ever underground nuclear test.
In the wake of the report, the
Japanese government set up a task force at the prime minister's office to gather
and analyze related information and to deal with the issue.
Japanese Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki also said on Monday that if the nuclear test
really happened, it would be a challenge to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the
DPRK-Japan Declaration signed in 2002.
Shiozaki added that Tokyo will lodge a
serious protest and condemn the nuclear test once it has been
confirmed.
xinhua
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