    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [October 9, 2006]
    [Pages 1796-1797]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Situation in North Korea
    October 9, 2006

        Last night the Government of North Korea proclaimed to the world
    that it had conducted a nuclear test. We're working to confirm North
    Korea's claim. Nonetheless, such a claim itself constitutes a threat to
    international peace and security. The United States condemns this
    provocative act. Once again North Korea has defied the will of the
    international community, and the international community will respond.
        This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with leaders
    of China and South Korea,
    Russia, and Japan.
    We reaffirmed our commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and all
    of us agreed that the proclaimed actions taken by North Korea are
    unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United Nations
    Security Council.
        The North Korean regime remains one of the world's leading
    proliferator of missile technology, including transfers to Iran and
    Syria. The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to
    states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the
    United States, and we would hold North Korea fully accountable of the
    consequences of such action.
        The United States remains committed to diplomacy, and we will
    continue to protect ourselves and our interests. I reaffirmed to our
    allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, that the United
    States will meet the full range of our deterrent and security
    commitments.
        Threats will not lead to a brighter future for the North Korean
    people nor weaken the resolve of the United States and our allies to
    achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Today's claim by
    North

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    Korea serves only to raise tensions, while depriving the North Korean
    people of the increased prosperity and better relations with the world
    offered by the implementation of the joint statement of the six-party
    talks. The oppressed and impoverished people of North Korea deserve that
    brighter future.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:58 a.m. in the Diplomatic Reception Room
    at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to President Hu Jintao
    of China; President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea; President Vladimir V.
    Putin of Russia; and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.