The ATOM Project Strongly Condemns Latest North Korean Nuclear Weapons Test

September 5, 2017

The ATOM Project strongly condemns North Korea’s latest nuclear weapons test. The ATOM Project opposes any nuclear weapons testing and believes existing nuclear arsenals and the development of new nuclear weapons programmes puts all of us at risk.

During an August 29 UN Security Council meeting prior to the latest weapons test, Kazakhstan – which sponsors The ATOM Project – read a statement noting Kazakhstan has long called for an end to nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches and said the DPRK must comply with UN Security Council sanctions. The statement also urged all parties to show restraint and asserted that a military option is an unacceptable solution.

The statement further asserted that dialogue and confidence-building measures are important in finding a solution. It also urged a reconsideration of the “double freezing” option, in which North Korea suspends its nuclear programme in exchange for the United States and South Korea suspending military exercises. It is also necessary, according to the statement, for the UN Security Council to maintain its unity and authority on the issue.

The ATOM Project also recently urged the participants of an Aug. 29 nonproliferation conference in Astana, Kazakhstan to take a moment of silence in honour of nuclear weapons testing victims. Aug. 29 is the UN International Day against Nuclear Tests, which was a Kazakh initiative. Approximately 1.5 million people in Kazakhstan were negatively affected by Soviet era nuclear weapons tests before Kazakhstan shut down the testing site on Aug. 29, 1991

The ATOM Project Honorary Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov also condemned North Korea’s most recent weapons test.

ATOM Project Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukovbeing interviewed by German press

“Now is the time to work for de-escalation of tensions, for a dismantling of  existing nuclear weapons arsenals, not a time for any nation to be testing and developing new nuclear weapons. The ATOM Project strongly urges North Korea to follow the example of Kazakhstan and other nations that have abandoned their nuclear programmes to become a peaceful and contributing member of the international community,” said Kuyukov.

To help end nuclear weapons testing and to supporting nuclear weapons free world, please join more than 300,000 people around the world who have signed our online petition at https://www.theatomproject.org/100K/ .