On 11 September 2016, Pugwash President Jayantha Dhanapala and Pugwash Secretary General Paolo Cotta-Ramusino issued a statement on the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 9 September 2016:
We regret very much the recent nuclear test by the DPRK, reportedly in the 10 kiloton range. This test underscores the DPRK’s continuing determination to develop its nuclear military program. All nonnuclear weapons states and civil society organisations should denounce the possession and the acquisition of this inhumane weapon.
This recent nuclear test reinforces once again the urgent need for the Entry Into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. All states, in particular all the states included in the Annex II of the treaty, that have not signed and ratified this treaty should do so urgently.
Moreover all nuclear weapon armed states should cease modernizing and expanding their nuclear arsenals and work with serious diplomatic muscle towards drastic reduction of nuclear weapons with the aim of finally reaching a nuclear weapons free world.
In the case of North East Asia, the test also highlights once again the need to address regional political tensions via dialogue and confidence-building measures rather than threatening the use of military forces and pursuing advances in military technologies. Communication between the two Koreas and resumption of the six-party talks are hence two essential steps.
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs 