President Tsai Ing-wen assembled Sept. 3 a high-level national security meeting following North Korea’s nuclear weapons test the same day, condemning actions that may undermine regional peace and stability, according to the Office of the President.
The president said an ad-hoc working group will be launched by the National Security Council that will monitor developments in the Korean Peninsula. She added that the country will also continue to collaborate with the international community on safeguarding regional peace and security.
During the 70-minute meeting, Tsai instructed the Executive Yuan to supervise all relevant government agencies in making comprehensive preparations to ensure domestic stability. The government will continue to monitor the situation and pertinent facts will be provided to the public, the Office of the President said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed strong disapproval regarding the nuclear test, urging the North Korean government to cease actions that damage regional security and work with other countries to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and East Asia as a whole. The MOFA reiterated the nation’s support of denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula, and said that regional disagreements should be resolved through peaceful dialogue.
According to the ministry, North Korea conducted its sixth test of a nuclear weapon at 12:29 p.m. local time in the Punggye-ri area. Authorities in Pyongyang announced the successful detonation of an advanced hydrogen bomb via state-owned Korean Central Television.
The Cabinet-level Atomic Energy Council said the same day that it is monitoring radiation levels at 46 observation stations across Taiwan and that they remain within the normal range. It added that the danger from radiation is minimal given that the test was reportedly conducted underground. (CPY-E)
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