XIAMEN CITY – BRICS leaders on Monday condemned the latest nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“We strongly deplore the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK,” stated in the Xiamen Declaration adopted by consensus of BRICS leaders during the 9th BRICS Summit held in this southeastern coastal Chinese city.
“We express deep concern over the ongoing tension and prolonged nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula,” it added.
The leaders from BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- said the tension in the Korean Peninsula should only be settled through peaceful means and direct dialogue of all the parties concerned.
Last Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly agreed during their bilateral meeting at the sidelines of 9th BRICS Summit to “appropriately deal with” North Korea’s latest nuclear test.
According to a report of state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi and Putin have agreed to maintain close contacts and to react in a relevant manner to Pyongyang's move.
Residents of the Chinese border city of Yanji reportedly felt the quake from the DPRK’s most powerful nuclear test.
The US Geological Survey measured the explosion from North Korea’s sixth nuclear test at magnitude 6.3.
Reports said North Korea had claimed a “perfect success” of a hydrogen bomb that could be loaded on an intercontinental ballistic missile. It claimed, however, that no radiation leakage had occurred. (PNA)
