MoF Condemns North Korean Nuclear Test As ‘Unsound Arms Race’

Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoF), has strongly condemns North Korea’s 2016 nuclear test, which was conducted in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

MoF in a press release said to believe that these actions will further escalate international tensions and an unsound arms race.

“Afghanistan is calling for a world and region free of any weapons of mass destruction, and once again declares that it opposes the spread of weapons of mass destruction. It wants North Korea to stop such tests and taking into consideration the UN Security Council resolutions as well as the law and practices of the International Atomic Energy Agency cooperate with the International Community in terms of preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction through peaceful means,” the press statement said.

“The Afghan Government hopes that North Korea rather than engaging in such tests, seeks greater cooperation through constructive international negotiations,” the statement added.

North Korea said it conducted a “higher level” nuclear test explosion on Friday that will allow it to build an array of stronger, smaller and lighter nuclear weapons, a move strongly condemned by the U.N. Security Council which promised new measures against Pyongyang.

The North’s fifth atomic test and the second in eight months, brought the U.N.’s most powerful body into emergency session, just three days after it strongly condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches.

South Korea’s president said the detonation, which Seoul estimated was the North’s biggest-ever in explosive yield, was an act of “fanatic recklessness” and a sign that leader Kim Jong Un “is spiraling out of control.” President Barack Obama condemned the test and said the U.S. would never accept the country as a nuclear power.