Philippines alarmed by North Korea nuke detonation
Pyongyang called the bomb testing a “meaningful” step in completing the country’s nuclear weapons program. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines yesterday expressed grave concern over the detonation by North Korea of a powerful nuclear device it claimed was a hydrogen bomb, saying Pyongyang’s testing limited the options for meaningful dialogue.
Pyongyang called the bomb testing a “meaningful” step in completing the country’s nuclear weapons program.
Manila said this “seriously undermines peace and stability in the region and degrades options for a meaningful dialogue on issues confronting the Korean Peninsula.”
“We are gravely concerned over this hydrogen bomb testing by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano in a statement sent to the media.
“Such provocative actions undermine regional peace and stability,” he said.
The secretary, who was in Seoul on an official visit, issued the statement shortly after Pyongyang announced that it tested a hydrogen bomb at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
“The Philippines urges North Korea to return to the negotiating table. ASEAN is ready to play a role in creating diplomatic space to effect meaningful dialogue,” Cayetano said.
He met with Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs Millicent Cruz-Paredes to discuss the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
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