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Ban Ki-moon urges DPRK to return to six-party talks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-26 23:35

HELSINKI -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned the latest nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urging the DPRK to stop testing nuclear weapons and return to the six-party talks as soon as possible.

Related readings:  DPRK Conducts Nuclear Test Related readings:  United Nations react to DPRK nuclear test  China urges UN actions for peace on Korean Peninsula  SKorea, Japan pursue UN punishment against DPRK nuclear test  World concerned over DPRK's nuclear test  S Korean troops on heightened alert amid DPRK's nuclear test

After meeting with Finnish President Tarja Halonen during his visit here, Ban said he sincerely hoped that the DPRK could resolve all the differences through a dialogue in a peaceful manner.

This was Ban's first visit to Finland as the UN secretary-general. He held talks with Halonen on such issues as the climate change, global economic crisis and UN peacekeeping operation.

The UN chief also warned of severe consequences of the climate change when he delivered a speech at the Finnish parliament. He said that only by acting at once could mankind avert a potential catastrophe.

"A comprehensive, fair and effective climate agreement would enable us to look toward a brighter future," he said, calling on all countries to take immediate actions to develop green economy, cut emissions and try to reach an agreement on the Copenhagen Climate Summit in the coming December.