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The UN chief and some countries have voiced support for the latest UN resolution condemning the Feb. 12 nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution, demanding the DPRK not to proceed with any further nuclear tests, give up any nuclear arms program and return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"Acting unanimously and agreeing on effective and credible measures, the Security Council has sent an unequivocal message to the DPRK that the international community will not tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons and related acts," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement.
The resolution also called for peaceful, diplomatic and political settlement of the current situation and a resumption of the six-party talks which began in 2003 but stalled in late 2008.
Ban called upon the DPRK and all other member states to "fully comply with the resolution," which demonstrated "a firm commitment to upholding the global norm against any nuclear tests and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime," the statement said.
The UN chief, who remained "deeply concerned" about heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula, urged the DPRK to refrain from any further destabilizing steps or bellicose rhetoric.
"At a time of new political leadership throughout the region, the Secretary-General urges Pyongyang to reverse course and build confidence with the country's neighbors," the statement said.
On the same day, the United States said the UN resolution creates new barriers to the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
"The international community stands united in its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and in its demand that North Korea comply with its international obligations," White House spokesman Jay Carney told a regular news briefing.
In a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow voiced hope that the DPRK would properly heed to the unanimous call by the international community to scrap its nuclear arms and missile programs.
"We hope that Pyongyang will duly accept the consolidated will of the international community expressed in the resolution and drop the further development of nuclear arms and all military rocket programs," the statement said.
"We expect the DPRK to return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to the regimen of IAEA safeguards and join CTBT."
Moscow also urged countries to resume the six-party talks to "form a mechanism of peace and security in Northeast Asia."
Shortly after the adoption of the UN resolution, South Korea said it "welcomes and supports" the decision.
"The government hopes North Korea will make a right decision and become a responsible member of the international community by embracing international concerns and demands, and ending its nuclear and missile development and provocations," South Korea's Foreign Ministry said.
Also on Thursday, Canada said it welcomed the UN resolution on the DPRK and called on Pyongyang to "abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs."
The renewed UN resolution came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the DPRK vowed to nullify an armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War and threatened to exercise the right to preemptive nuclear strikes for self-defense.
