Turkey condemns nuclear test, North Korea fires two more missiles

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

refid:11724858 ilişkili resim dosyası

"We condemn the nuclear test announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 25 May 2009. This represents an act far from fulfilling the expectations of the international community striving for peace and stability to prevail in the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Monday.

"We are seriously concerned about this incident announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which represents a violation of the relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take swift steps for the promotion of peace and security, as well as building confidence in the region and to comply with its obligations," it added. 

The statement also said Turkey continues to attach importance to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to the continuation of a six-nation forum process aimed at persuading the North to give up its nuclear programs.

North Korea, which stunned the world with its first atomic bomb test in October 2006, made good on its threat to stage another test on Monday after the U.N. Security Council censured it for an April rocket launch.

The Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea for testing the nuclear bomb as major powers mulled fresh punitive action and U.S. President Barack Obama pledged support to Pyongyang’s neighbors.

North Korea launched tests Tuesday of two more short-range missiles a day after conducting a nuclear test, news reports said.

Two missiles - one ground-to-air, the other ground-to-ship - with a range of about 130 kilometers were test-fired from an east coast launch pad, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed South Korean officials.

Pyongyang also test-fired three short-range missiles Monday in the hours after conducting an underground nuclear test in the northeast, Yonhap said.