Special report: DPRK conducts nuclear test    

    CANBERRA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Tuesday announced that he had authorized visa restrictions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), with very limited exceptions, including the cancellation of some existing DPRK visas.

    In response to DPRK's announcement of its first-ever underground nuclear test, Downer issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the test as "a grave threat to peace and security in the region and beyond and an expression of flagrant disregard for the international non-proliferation regime that the international community is strongly resolved to protect."

    "This provocative course of action was carried out in complete defiance of the spirit in which UN Security Council resolution 1695 was unanimously adopted," he said.

    "It contravenes the commitments North Korea (DPRK) undertook in the 19 September 2005 Joint statement including to abandon all nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons programs, return to the NPT and to IAEA safeguards at an early date," he said.

    The Security Council's unanimous condemnation of the DPRK's nuclear test on Monday demonstrates the strength of the international community's resolve on this issue, Downer said.

    "The international community now has no choice but to adopt strategies to contain North Korea's mindless and provocative pursuit of nuclear weapons," he said.

    "Australia stands firmly behind these efforts and, where appropriate, will implement further sanctions against North Korea, in addition to those announced on 19 September," he added.

    The DPRK's security can only be guaranteed through dialogue and peaceful co-existence, not isolation and provocation, he said, adding that the DPRK's actions risk fuelling a regional arms race and further undermining its own security.

    Downer said Australia would support the strongest possible Security Council action.

    "The bilateral relationship will suffer further repercussions should North Korea continue down this path of provocation," he said. Enditem