Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on reports that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test, said:

“There is still uncertainty about exactly what has happened but, if verified, the nuclear test carried out by North Korea represents a clear violation of numerous UN Security Council Resolutions and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The country’s nuclear programme poses a grave threat to international peace and security and does nothing to improve the prospects of the people of North Korea, who continue to pay the price for the country’s misguided policies.

“I call on the North Korean government to recognise its commitments under international law, and urge it and the international community to reinvigorate efforts towards the goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, ideally through the resumption of the Six Party Talks.”