UN chief strongly condemns DPRK nuclear test

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the latest nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "in the strongest possible terms."

The DPRK's state-run television reported early Friday that the country had conducted a nuclear warhead explosion test, the country's fifth one.

"This is yet another brazen breach of the resolutions of the Security Council," Ban told reporters here.

"This unacceptable act endangers peace and security in the region and is another vivid reminder of the urgent need to strengthen the global nuclear test ban regime," he added.

Ban called on the DPRK "to reverse its course and commit to a path of denuclearization."

"Rather than pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology, the DPRK should be promoting the well-being of the country's people," he said.

In January, the DPRK carried out a test of what it called its first H-bomb. It also conducted underground nuclear tests respectively in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

The UN Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon on the DPRK's latest nuclear test.

The 15-nation council has adopted five resolutions to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs. The latest one adopted in March imposes the most severe sanctions yet on the country, including an export ban and asset freeze.