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WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday called the latest nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "a grave threat" to regional and international peace and stability,
Obama said he had spoken separately via phone with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the issue.
The DPRK's state-run television reported early Friday that the country had conducted a nuclear warhead explosion test. It was Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test, which followed the previous one by eight months.
The UN Security Council is set to hold a closed-door meeting on Friday afternoon on the latest nuclear test conducted by the DPRK.
According to UN Spokesperson's Office, the closed-door meeting is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. local time (1900 GMT).
Also on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing firm opposition to the nuclear test.
"Today the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, despite universal opposition from the international community, conducted another nuclear test, to which the Chinese government is firmly opposed," said the statement.
The statement said China's stance has always been to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, prevent nuclear proliferation and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
"China will, along with the international community, keep working toward the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and commit to settling problems through the six-party talks," said the statement.
