India expresses serious concern over North Korea tests

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said underground nuclear test conducted by North Korea is a "development of serious concern".

Talking to reporters after taking charge of the Defence Ministry for a second term, he said: "It is a development of serious concern. India is against nuclear proliferation."

The North Korean Government formally announced that it had conducted a second nuclear test, an event that is likely to invite strong criticism from the international community.

In a statement issued through the official Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean Government said: "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defence in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians."

"The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control and the results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology," the statement added.

"The successful nuclear test is greatly inspiring the army and people of the DPRK all out in the 150-day campaign, intensifying the drive for effecting a new revolutionary surge to open the gate to a thriving nation.

The test will contribute to defending the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism and ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the region around it with the might of Songun," the statement concluded.

According to the paper, the nuclear weapons test triggered an artificial earthquake measuring 4.7 on the open-ended Richter Scale.

Referring to the instability and violence in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka as a serious concern, Antony expressed the need for eternal vigilance from all the quarters.

"The security scenario around India is becoming more and more challenging. Developments around us are a cause of serious concern to us. So, eternal vigilance is a must from all quarters," he said.

Antony further highlighted the need for strengthening land-border security, air defence and coastal security by citing example of terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.

"We have to further strengthen our security bases and also security apparatus by all means in our land border, in our rare defence and also in our coastal security. Especially after the tragic incident of 26/11 at Mumbai, we have to pay more attention on coastal security also," he added. (ANI)