Text 3374, 57 rader
Skriven 2006-10-09 23:31:34 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (061009) for Mon, 2006 Oct 9
==================================================

===========================================================================
President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 9, 2006

President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test
Diplomatic Reception Room

President's Remarks view


9:58 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Last night the government of North Korea proclaimed to the
world that it had conducted a nuclear test. We're working to confirm North
Korea's claim. Nonetheless, such a claim itself constitutes a threat to
international peace and security. The United States condemns this
provocative act. Once again North Korea has defied the will of the
international community, and the international community will respond.

This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with leaders of
China, and South Korea, Russia, and Japan. We reaffirmed our commitment to
a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and all of us agreed that the proclaimed
actions taken by North Korea are unacceptable and deserve an immediate
response by the United Nations Security Council.

The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading proliferator of
missile technology, including transfers to Iran and Syria. The transfer of
nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities
would be considered a grave threat to the United States, and we would hold
North Korea fully accountable of the consequences of such action.

The United States remains committed to diplomacy, and we will continue to
protect ourselves and our interests. I reaffirmed to our allies in the
region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United States will meet
the full range of our deterrent and security commitments.

Threats will not lead to a brighter future for the North Korean people, nor
weaken the resolve of the United States and our allies to achieve the
de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Today's claim by North Korea
serves only to raise tensions, while depriving the North Korean people of
the increased prosperity and better relations with the world offered by the
implementation of the joint statement of the six-party talks. The oppressed
and impoverished people of North Korea deserve that brighter future.

Thank you.

END 10:01 A.M. EDT
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061009.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)