Statement of the HON. DR. ALBERTO G. ROMULO
SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS  

ON THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA’S CONDUCT OF NUCLEAR TESTS
9 October 2006 

The Philippines is committed – along with the international community – to secure our world free from proliferation of nuclear arms and weapons. 

We deplore in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) conduct of nuclear tests today. 

We strongly urge DPRK to immediately return to the Six-Party Talks for the formulation of a framework for the discontinuation of DPRK’s nuclear tests. 

DPRK’s act constitutes a threat to peace, security and stability in the region and the world. 

DPRK’s nuclear test also clearly violates the provisions of the Six-Party Talk’s September 19, 2006 Joint Statement on the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the UNSC Resolution 1695 and the principles of the ASEAN Regional Forum of which the DPRK is a member. 

We join the call of the community of nations for the DPRK to desist from conducting further nuclear tests and to adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

We enjoin all regional and global stakeholders to sustain and strengthen our collective efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to this issue through constructive dialogue and diplomacy. 

Our shared interest in the maintenance of stability in the region demands no less.  END

/jay

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