1. In response to the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on the situation of human rights in North Korea, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued on November 20 a statement that “faced with a condition compelling it not to refrain from conducting a new nuclear test any longer, North Korea will bolster its war capabilities in an unlimited manner.”

2. In regard to North Korea’s failure to embrace the concern and firm recommendations of the international community over its serious human rights situation and issuance of the aforementioned statement, the Government of the Republic of Korea warns that should North Korea take actions worsening the situation, including its nuclear threats to the international community, it will face stern consequences from the international community. In addition, the ROK government once again calls on North Korea to take concrete and substantive measures to improve its human rights situation in line with the recommendations stipulated in the UN General Assembly resolution.

3. The Government of the Republic of Korea, in order to prevent North Korea from carrying out any further nuclear tests and/or other provocations, will thoroughly brace for all such possibilities in close coordination with the other member countries of the Six-Party Talks and the rest of the international community.

                      Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation