China is resolutely opposed to the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on May 25.

According to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), earlier that day the DPRK announced it had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test.

"The DPRK ignored the universal opposition of the international community and once more conducted a nuclear test. The Chinese Government is resolutely opposed to it," the statement said.

It has been the firm and consistent stance of the Chinese Government to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and oppose the proliferation of nuclear weapons in an effort to maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia, the statement said.

The statement voiced a strong demand that the DPRK live up to its commitment to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, stop any activity that might worsen the situation and return to the six-party talks.

The statement noted that maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia conformed to the common interests of all parties concerned, called for a calm response from all parties and urged them to pursue peaceful resolution of the issue through consultation and dialogue.

China would continue its unremitting efforts to this end, the statement added.

According to a statement released by the KCNA, the DPRK Government said the test was "part of [its] measures to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defense in every way, as requested by its scientists and technicians." The brief statement gave no details about the test, including its location.

The United Nations also voiced strong opposition to the nuclear test.

In a May 25 statement issued by his spokesperson, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "strongly deplores" the DPRK test, which he says was "in clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions."

The Security Council was called into an unusual session and quickly came up with a unanimous statement condemning the test.

South Korea's defense ministry said on May 25 that it had launched a "crisis management team" of general-level officers.

"The team will come up with measures to respond to the nuclear test," said Lee Bung Woo, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said that the DPRK nuclear test is a "grave challenge" to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime and a "clear violation" of a UN Security Council resolution banning the country from nuclear activity.

The Japanese Government has set up a special task force at the emergency management center in Aso's office.

U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the test as a "threat to international peace and security" and accused the DPRK of "recklessly challenging the international community" with its new underground nuclear test.

The behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia, Obama said in a statement, adding that such provocations will only serve to deepen the DPRK's isolation.

The Russian Foreign Ministry voiced concern about the test, saying that it threatens regional stability, violates the will of the UN Security Council and is a blow to non-proliferation efforts.

"Initiators of decisions on nuclear tests bear personal responsibility for them to the world community," Russian presidential spokesperson Natalya Timakova said. "It is absolutely clear that politics and diplomacy are the only way for the DPRK to achieve security for itself."

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)