She would also not be drawn on whether China would support further sanctions, saying only that it has fulfilled previous United Nations resolutions and would continue to take a responsible and constructive attitude towards talks at the Security Council.
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South Korea, the United States (US), Japan, Russia and China all condemned the blast at the Punggye-ri nuclear site, the North’s most powerful yet at 10 kilotons.
North Koreans gathered around public screens to watch the official announcement of the test, which came on the 68th anniversary of the country’s founding.
The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on North Korea’s latest nuclear test, and several members are expecting an immediate condemnation and discussions on further measures including sanctions.The 15 members are expected to meet behind closed doors late Friday afternoon.
In March, the Security Council adopted its toughest sanctions against North Korea in two decades in response to its nuclear test in January and a rocket launch.
Under 32-year-old dictator Kim Jong Un, North Korea has accelerated the development of its nuclear and missile programmes, despite United Nations sanctions that were tightened in March and have further isolated the impoverished country.
“We will step up pressure on the North by using all possible measures, including more, stronger sanctions on the North with the global community and at the UN Security Council”, she said. “North Korea is seeking to ideal its nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles so they can hold the region and the world hostage under threat of nuclear strike”, Power said.
Mr van Bohemen said the New Zealand government was seriously concerned by North Korea’s actions.
“It is too early to bury the six-party talks”.
Now, he said, “we are coming to nearly this confrontational situation”.
North Korea’s boast of a technologically game-changing nuclear test defied both tough worldwide sanctions and long-standing diplomatic pressure to curb its nuclear ambitions.
South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo also held a phone conversation with his USA and Japanese counterparts, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in sanctioning North Korea.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this further provocative action by North Korea”, she said.
China said it was resolutely opposed to the test but Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying would not be drawn on whether China would support tougher sanctions against its neighbour.
Known to be one of the world’s most secretive countries, North Korea has, in the past, actively carried out nuclear and missile tests much to the anger of South Korea and other world powers.
The paper also accused South Korea’s leadership of being “military gangsters” who were provoking the North by conducting joint military exercises with the United States which encroached into their waters.
Ms Bishop said China’s response would be sought to the action, saying the country had a “special role to play, given its proximity to the North Korean regime”.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Kim’s mental state is “spiralling out of control”.
The campaign said Friday the fifth test is yet another effect of Clinton’s failure in North Korea policy as secretary of state. But he added, “given the consequences of getting it wrong, it is prudent for a military planner to plan for the worst”.
Won’s alternative suggestion along with around 20 other conservative lawmakers is for South Korea to take up its own nuclear arms, which would fly in the face of Seoul’s agreement with the United States that affords American protection.
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The latest nuclear test by North Korea is estimated to produced a blast equivalent to 10 kilotons – twice the power of the country’s last test, according to Korea’s Meteorological Administration.
