International reactions to the 2013 North Korean nuclear test

International reactions to the 2013 North Korean nuclear test were nearly unanimous in their condemnation and denunciation of the test.

Countries

• Australia – The Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard said "The Australian Government condemns in the strongest possible terms nuclear testing by North Korea" in a statement. The Australian Government also postponed a visit by North Korean diplomats to Australia which was related to establishing a North Korean embassy in Canberra.
• Canada – Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird issued a statement expressing that "The North Korean regime’s reckless disregard for the global will is again on display. This test—North Korea’s third—is provocative and marks a serious, misguided threat to regional peace and security."
• China – The Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi said that China "resolutely" opposes the latest nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The North Korean ambassador to China, Ji Jae Ryong, was personally informed of this position on 12 February 2013 in a meeting with Yang Jiechi.
• France – French President François Hollande strongly condemned the test and said he would work with its United Nations Security Council partners on a firm response.
• Germany – German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle strongly condemned the test and said the international community should consider further sanctions against North Korea.
• India – India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, called upon North Korea to "refrain from such actions which adversely impact on peace and stability in region".
• Iran – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast stated after the nuclear test that all nuclear weapons should be "destroyed". However, it has been reported that Iran had a senior representative monitoring the nuclear test.
• Israel – The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that "These actions by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), in violation of its international obligations, must be met with a swift response by the international community. A clear message must be sent to DPRK and to other countries that such activities are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated."
• Italy – Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi strongly condemned saying that the test threatens regional stability and global security, and he also added that Italy with the United Nations will take action against any North Korean nuclear plan.
• Japan – The Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe said the test was a "grave threat" that could not be tolerated.
• Mexico – The Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs condemned North Korea's nuclear test, and considered that "[it] goes against the efforts of the international community to foment dialogue, trust, and cooperation".
• Norway – Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide states: "We strongly condemn this nuclear test. This is a serious escalation in a tense region and we urge North Korea to stop with their nuclear testing," adding that he fears that North Korea will step up their nuclear programme.
• Pakistan – In an official press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan condemned the North Korean nuclear test and stated that "Pakistan regrets that the Government of DPRK has conducted underground nuclear test." In a short press official release, Pakistan stated that "it supports a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula as agreed by all parties in the Framework Agreement of 1994 and reaffirms its support for the Six-Party Talks process."
• Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines stated that "The Philippines condemns the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)." It also added that "the nuclear test by the DPRK clearly violates UN Security Council Resolutions 1695 (2006), 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009) which demanded that the DPRK not conduct any further nuclear tests."
• Romania – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania strongly condemned North Korea's "persistent lack of cooperation" with the International Atomic Energy Agency and called for Pyongyang to comply with the UNSC resolutions and "return to the Six-Party Talks [...] without preconditions".
• Russia – Russia "decisively condemned" the nuclear test calling it a violation of North Korea's international obligations. Head of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Gennady Onishchenko confirmed that the nuclear test conducted by North Korea did not increase radiation levels in Russia. State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Franz Klintsevich has urged economic sanctions against North Korea to be imposed by the UN Security Council. He emphasized that North Korea issued an early test notification to South Korea and Japan but did not do the same for Russia although the two states had a common border.
• Taiwan – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China condemned the "provocative" nuclear test and reiterated its stances on a nuclear-free Eastern Asia.
• Turkey – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey stated that, Turkey is gravely concerned to learn that Democratic People's Republic of Korea made an underground nuclear test. This development is a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2087. Also Ankara regards this test as a threat to efforts towards international peace and security, and strongly condemns it.
• United Kingdom – British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "North Korea's development of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities poses a threat to international and regional security. Its repeated provocations only serve to increase regional tension, and hinder the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."
• United States – The President of the United States Barack Obama called the test "highly provocative", and said that it "undermines regional stability". He vowed actions to defend the U.S. and its allies. The United States sent aircraft equipped with sensors that may be able to determine whether it was a plutonium or uranium weapon.

International organizations

• Association of Southeast Asian Nations In a chairman statement released by the ASEAN Secretariat, the regional grouping called on North Korea to comply fully with its obligations to all relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and to its commitments under the 19 September 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks.
• European Union – The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that: "This nuclear test is a further blatant challenge to the global non-proliferation regime," adding that it poses a threat to international stability.
• NATO – North Atlantic Council condemn in the strongest terms the test by North Korea of a nuclear weapon, conducted in flagrant violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Also, NATO stated that:We call on the North Korean authorities to cease immediately such provocative actions, to meet their obligations under international law and to comply fully with the decisions of the international community, as expressed by the United Nations Security Council.
• United Nations – The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the test, and called it a "clear and grave violation" of Security Council resolutions.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission – At 02.57.51 (UTC) on 12 February 2013, the CTBTO’s seismic network detected an unusual seismic event in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which measured 4.9 in magnitude. Later that morning, the DPRK announced that it had conducted a nuclear test. CTBTO Executive Secretary Tibor Tóth strongly condemned DPRK’s action as "a clear threat to international peace and security." The event was registered by 94 seismic stations and two infrasound stations in the CTBTO’s network.