South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said that Pyongyang had conducted an underground nuclear test in defiance of a UN Security Council statement urging it to give up nuclear test plans and return to disarmament talks, and earlier international warnings.
"Russia absolutely condemns the test in North Korea, which has inflicted great damage to the non-proliferation process," Russian President Vladimir Putin said, also urging the Communist regime to return to the six-nation talks.
North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States have been engaged in talks on the nuclear issue since 2003, discussing aid and security guarantees for the secretive regime in exchange for a renunciation of its nuclear program. But talks stalled last November over Pyongyang's demands that the U.S. lift sanctions imposed on it for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
Putin instructed the Foreign Ministry to hold consultations in the UN Security Council.
The Foreign Ministry earlier Monday summoned North Korea's ambassador to voice concerns about the move, which it said could provoke a nuclear arms race in northeast Asia.
"This step, made in defiance of all appeals from the international community, threatens a further escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula, undermines the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and sets a precedent for a nuclear arms race in northeast Asia," the ministry said in a statement following a meeting with the Korean diplomat.
Mikhail Kamynin, Foreign Ministry spokesman, reiterated Russia's stance, saying that no matter what the motivation, such a step would only aggravate problems on the Korean peninsula. He said it was a threat to security and stability in the region and the world.
Russia's lawmakers shared the president and ministers' position on the nuclear tests.
A senior member of Russia's lower house of parliament said the nuclear test demonstrated North Korea's defiance of signals from the international community, but added that it was unclear how near the country was to producing nuclear weapons.
Russia's defense minister and deputy prime minister confirmed Pyongyang's first ever nuclear test since it withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, and announced it had developed nuclear weapons in 2005. Sergei Ivanov said the power of the nuclear device tested was equivalent to 5,000-15,000 tons of TNT.
"We know the exact site of the test," Ivanov said, adding that the environmental situation was normal, including in the Primorye Territory bordering on North Korea. "But we will continue monitoring."
Konstantin Kosachev of the State Duma's international committee said the test had "drastically changed the situation on the Korean peninsula, and affects the interests of Russia, which borders on North Korea."
"The test is the most undesirable result of the efforts made within the six-nation talks to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program," he said.
A fellow MP echoed his concerns, saying the test poses a threat to Russia.
"We do not need another state possessing nuclear weapons on Russia's border," said Mikhail Grishankov, deputy head of the State Duma's Security Committee, adding that reports of a nuclear test were very alarming.
But Kosachev implicated the United States for the latest developments, saying the decision to pressure North Korea instead of focusing on talks was to blame, and said that further economic sanctions against the impoverished country were not needed.
North Korea, which relies heavily on foreign aid, is already under limited UN Security Council sanctions imposed in July after it conducted missile launches, widely interpreted as an attempt to force the six negotiators, especially the U.S., to make concessions in talks.
A member of the Russian Federation Council, the upper chamber of parliament, in charge of international affairs moved to explain Russia's more 'moderate' position on the matter, saying Pyongyang was not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and international legal instruments could not therefore be applied to the country.
Mikhail Margelov said Russia's position is "somewhere between Washington's threats and Beijing's so-far verbal condemnations."
Pyongyang's ally, China has strongly protested the test, saying it had sought a nuclear-free Korea. The United States has demanded new sanctions against Pyongyang, but said it would not respond to the test militarily.
North Korea said the nuclear test was a success, and it would help maintain peace and stability in the region.
"The nuclear test was carried out 100% using our own technology," the KCNA reported.
