For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 9, 2006
President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test
Diplomatic Reception Room
9:58 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Last night the government of North Korea proclaimed to
the world that it had conducted a nuclear test. We're working to
confirm North Korea's claim. Nonetheless, such a claim itself
constitutes a threat to international peace and security. The United
States condemns this provocative act. Once again North Korea has defied
the will of the international community, and the international community
will respond.
This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with leaders of
China, and South Korea, Russia, and Japan. We reaffirmed our commitment
to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and all of us agreed that the
proclaimed actions taken by North Korea are unacceptable and deserve an
immediate response by the United Nations Security Council.
The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading proliferator
of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria. The
transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or
non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United
States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the
consequences of such action.
The United States remains committed to diplomacy, and we will continue
to protect ourselves and our interests. I reaffirmed to our allies in
the region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United States will
meet the full range of our deterrent and security commitments.
Threats will not lead to a brighter future for the North Korean people,
nor weaken the resolve of the United States and our allies to achieve
the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Today's claim by North
Korea serves only to raise tensions, while depriving the North Korean
people of the increased prosperity and better relations with the world
offered by the implementation of the joint statement of the six-party
talks. The oppressed and impoverished people of North Korea deserve
that brighter future.
Thank you.
END 10:01 A.M. EDT
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