Bush condemns North Korea's nuke test

Washington, Oct 9 (UNI) US President George W Bush today "condemned" North Korea's nuclear test and called for an immediate response from the United Nations Security Council.

In a special broadcast to the nation, President Bush described the Communist state's action as "provocative" and "unacceptable." Earlier, He had telephonic discussions with leaders of Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan, who agreed with his view about the "immediate response by the United Nations Security Council.

Mr Bush said North Korea was one of the world's "leading proliferators" of missile technology including transfers to Iran and Syria. The transfer of nuclear weapons to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the US and "we will hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences of such action," he warned.

President Bush, however, said the United States was still trying to confirm whether Pyongyang had actually conducted the nuclear test as it had claimed earlier today.

China, a close ally of North Korea, denounced the test as "brazen," and South Korea said it would respond "sternly" to a move that experts said raised fears of nuclear terrorism and a regional arms race.

North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, Pak Kil-Yon, wanted the Security Council to "congratulate" his country's scientists and researchers "instead of issuing notorious, useless and reckless resolutions or whatever the statement against" North Korea.

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