European leaders have expressed concern following North Korea's decision to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
North Korea announced today its immediate withdrawal from the Treaty and from the constraints of United Nations atomic safeguards.
However, Pyongyang insisted it had no intention of developing nuclear weapons and that the country's nuclear activities at this stage would be confined to peaceful purposes only, such as the production of electricity.
The EU Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana, called on North Korea to reverse the decision, and expressed his grave concern at the development. Mr Solana described the NPT as 'one of the pillars of international stability.'
He urged North Korea to restate its commitment to non-proliferation and to the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
France called the move a serious decision, heavy with consequences, while Germany said it was deeply concerned.
Britain pointed out that, technically, North Korea has to give the UN Security Council three months' notice of its intention to withdraw.
China, which is a close ally of North Korea, has said it is concerned at the consequences of Pyongyang's decision. Meanwhile, Vietnam has called for urgent dialogue to reduce the mounting tension on the Korean peninsula.
The NPT took effect in 1970 and has been ratified by 188 countries. It seeks to limit the possession of nuclear weapons to the US, Russia, China, France and Britain.
The announcement came as two North Korean diplomats began informal talks on the crisis with the former American ambassador to the UN, Bill Richardson.
The withdrawal followed an ultimatum issued on Monday by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which called on North Korea to readmit nuclear inspectors which it expelled last month.
However, Pyongyang has also suggested that it may reverse the decision to abandon the nuclear arms control treaty if the US resumes vital fuel shipments to North Korea, which is at the point of economic collapse.
