평화군축센터 미분류 2006-10-09   724

We Strongly Denounce the North Korea’s Nuclear Test

[Statement] It was reported on October 9 that North Korea finally enforced its decision to conduct a nuclear test. We strongly condemn North Korea’s action which is likely to endanger the lives and safety of the people on the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) announced that “the nuclear test has been safely conducted under ground.” It argued, therefore, North Korea has come to retain ‘strong self-defense capabilities’ and, “the test will contribute to keep the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and neighboring area.” However, since the test exposes Koreans to the disastrous nuclear threat, this act utterly opposes the peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and severely degrades the spirit of the 1992 Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the ‘North-South Joint Declaration of June 15.’ Moreover, the test also creates a confrontational atmosphere politically and militarily in the region. It will lead to unintended consequences that differ from North Korea’s long-term wish to retain self-defense capabilities or deterrence. We warn that North Korea’s attitude may cause other neighboring countries to beef up their military and will eventually end up threatening the stability of the Korean Peninsula including North Korea.

We firmly oppose and condemn North Korea’s military adventurism to be a ‘nuclear power,’ and to take advantage of this position as a negotiation card by holding the Koreans’ safety as hostage. The nuclear test is unacceptable. North Korea must immediately give up its nuclear weapons.

On the other hand, because of North Korea’s nuclear test we have entered a new chapter where we can no longer ignore North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons. In this sense, we need to face the reality that the Bush administration’s malicious ignorance, exclusion, and lack of response to North Korea provided North Korea with the excuse of the nuclear test. The past proceedings show that if the U.S. continues in this manner, North Korea is more likely to cause higher levels of tension. If the U.S. repeats these mistakes, the Korean Peninsula will enter upon an unpredictable phase of crisis.

The deepening crisis and conflicts on the Korean Peninsula is a failure of diplomacy of the 6 party attendants and the international community, and the consequence will directly affect the Korean people. Therefore, we need to examine calmly and thoroughly how to solve the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. We need to manage this crisis brought by North Korea’s nuclear test peacefully and engage in reasonable dialogue to come up with a substantial solution. The 6 party member states including two Koreas and the U.S. should take responsibility to solve this crisis together and make a joint effort to make North Korea give up its nuclear weapons and achieve permanent peace in Northeast Asia.

Center for Peace and Disarmament



We_Strongly_Denounce_the_North_Korea.doc

정부지원금 0%, 회원의 회비로 운영됩니다

참여연대 후원/회원가입