BRAZILIAN NOTE ON THE NUCLEAR TEST THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (DPRK) ANNOUNCED IT HAD CONDUCTED

Brasilia, 9 October 2006

The Brazilian government vehemently condemns the nuclear test that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced it had conducted. This decision is at odds with a Presidential Statement on the subject issued by the United Nations Security Council on October 6, 2006.

The Brazilian government exhorts the DPRK to rejoin the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), without any conditions and as a non-nuclear weapon state. It also urges North Korea to adhere, as soon as possible, to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to strictly comply with the moratorium on nuclear tests, while the CTBT has not yet taken effect. It also exhorts the DPRK to return to the six-party negotiations in a constructive spirit, with the aim of resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and achieving understandings that take into account, in a balanced manner, both international security concerns and those of the countries in the region.

While joining once again in the efforts of the international community in favor of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Brazil also reiterates its view that significant and urgent steps must be taken to eliminate all nuclear arsenals.