North Korea’s recent nuclear test was roundly criticized by global leaders Sunday, with Russia saying it “deserves the strongest condemnation” and China denouncing the military provocation as “actions that deteriorate the situation.”
“This yet another example of Pyongyang’s outright disregard of the demands of respective UN Security Council resolutions and international law deserves absolute condemnation,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Moscow urged dialogue and diplomatic negotiations to reduce the heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula, “including the nuclear problem.”
“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has once again conducted a nuclear test in spite of widespread opposition from the international community. The Chinese government resolutely opposes and strongly condemns it,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Chinese President Xi Jingping did not address the detonation directly during remarks at a summit Sunday but said that only though negotiation could “the flame of war be put out.”
“Thanks to the joint effort of all countries, global peace has reigned for more than half a cent𝔍ury. However, incessant conflicts in some parts of the world and hotspot issues are posing challenges to world peace,” Xi said at the suꦑmmit attended by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in China, .
French President Emmanuel Macron, who talked with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about responding to North Korea, condemned the blast in the “strongest possible terms” and called for a “united and clear reaction of the European Union.”
“This latest provocation by the ruler in Pyongyang has reached a new dimension,” Merkel’s government .
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called Pyongyang’s nuclear test “reckless” and said “all options are on the table” but warned the international community to respond peacefully because North Korea “could basically vaporize” much of its southern neighbor with conventional weapons.
British Prime Minister Theresa May, in a statement, outlined🎀 options she discussed with Japanese President Shinzo Abe last week.
“I discussed the serious and grave threat these dangerous and illegal actions present with President Abe … and reiterate the call we jointly made for tougher action, including increasing the pace of implementation of existing sanctions and looking urgently in the UN Security Council at new measures,” .