[JURIST] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon [official profile] and other world leaders on Monday condemned [statement text] a North Korea [JURIST news archive] nuclear weapon test held earlier in the day. The test violates a 2006 UN Security Council [official website] ban on nuclear or missile tests [Resolution 1718 text; JURIST report] by the country, and the body announced [UN News Centre report] Monday that it would immediately hold a meeting to discuss the test. In statement by Ki-moon's spokesperson, he said he was "deeply concerned" by the tests and urged North Korea to restart talks to end its nuclear program:

The Secretary-General strongly deplores the conduct of an underground nuclear test by the Democratic People[']s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned that this act will negatively affect regional peace and stability as well as the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The Secretary-General reiterates his conviction that differences should be resolved in a peaceful manner through dialogue. He urges the DPRK to refrain from taking further actions that would increase tensions in the region. He also insists that the DPRK comply with its obligations in full and restart dialogue with the parties concerned without delay, including the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

In April 2009, North Korea ordered UN nuclear inspectors out [press release] of the country. In October 2008, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] head Mohamed ElBaradei [BBC profile] said he wants North Korea to return [JURIST report] to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [text, PDF; IAEA backgrounder] after a five-year absence. In 2007, North Korea agreed that it would end its nuclear weapons program [JURIST report] in exchange for aid as part of a multi-stage initiative by the Six Party Talks [CFR backgrounder].