N Korean nuke, missile test will affect disarmament process: UN

The recent nuclear and missile tests conducted by North Korea jeopardize continuing global efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned.

Addressing the Finland's Parliament at Helsinki, Ban said that the North Korea's nuclear test on Monday, its second ever, and its subsequent launch of short-range missiles not only "create tension in the region," but "will also pose serious implications to peace and security on the regional and global level."

Speaking to reporters following his speech, the Secretary-General said that the UN Security Council, which condemned Monday's nuclear test in a press statement, can "start to take further measures corresponding to the gravity of this situation."

Joining the chorus of world leaders in speaking out against the test, he said it is in "flagrant violation" of the Council's resolution 1718 from 2006, which demanded that the country "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic missile," following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October of that year.

Ban reiterated his appeal to North Korean leaders to "refrain from taking any further measures," which would deteriorate the situation, create tensions in the region with negative implications for the ongoing international community's efforts to curb nuclear non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as nuclear disarmament talks which are now going on between the United States and the Russian Federation.

North Korea, he said, should abide by all commitments made to the international community as a member of the UN.

The only viable option for North Korea, Ban said, is for it to return to the table for six party talks aimed at curbing its nuclear ambitions.

In his address to the Finnish Parliament, the Secretary-General also touched on climate change, calling for the Nordic nation's support in wrapping up negotiations on an ambitious new pact to slash greenhouse gas emissions at this December's UN conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

He also announced that the world body will shortly be launching a Global Vulnerability Alert, with information being collected in real-time and shared with Member States to monitor the social effects of the current global economic crisis.