The New Zealand government Friday said the nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was "a dangerous affront to the international community and a serious threat to regional security."
As the current president of the United Nations Security Council, New Zealand expected to convene a meeting in response to the test shortly, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.
"This latest nuclear test is highly provocative and deeply concerning, especially as it comes on the back of a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea recently," McCully said in a statement.
"This is the fifth nuclear test conducted by North Korea, and it directly defies the UN Security Council which has demanded that North Korea stop nuclear testing," he said.
"New Zealand absolutely rejects the testing of nuclear weapons and is strongly committed global disarmament and non-proliferation."
