Movements Against Nuclear Weapons condemns North Korea

Chennai, Oct 12 (UNI) The Movement Against Nuclear Weapons (MANW) today deplored the nuclear test carried out by North Korea, saying it was a serious setback to the struggle for world peace and for elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

'In its eagerness to join the nuclear club, North Korea has conducted the test without considering, in the least, the consequences it will have for global and Asian peace and security,' Mr J Sri Raman, convenor of the movement, said in a statement here.

In following the 'bad examples' of India, Pakistan and Israel, North Korea had only accelerated the nuclear arms race, he said, adding, 'the MANW places the prime responsiblity for the failure to contain nuclear proliferation on the hypocrisy and double-standards of the P5 countries, especially the US, which have done nothing to honour their commitment to move towards total nuclear disarmament.' Pyongyang's 'undesirable act' exposed, yet again, the grave pitfalls in the global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which had actually abetted proliferation, Mr Raman said.

He said MANW hoped that, instead of resorting to the failed mantra of sanctions and threats, the UN would take realistic measures to launch a new global initiative for genuine nuclear disarmament.

'On no account should the UN let itself be an agency playing a proxy role for the US and other powers in their geopolitical games, if the world is to be saved from the menace of nuclear weapons.' UNI WS AA VD VV1732