Sweden has expressed its protest against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear test, according to a government press release.

On Monday, the DPRK ambassador in Stockholm was called to the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Frank Belfrage, at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to receive a Swedish protest against the nuclear test carried out on Monday.

At the meeting Mr Belfrage condemned the nuclear test, further to a statement published earlier by the EU Presidency. Sweden noted that the nuclear test constitutes an escalation of the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula in conflict with UN Security Council resolutions.

To lay the foundations for positive developments on the Korean Peninsula the Government of Sweden exhorts the Government of DPRK to resume the six-party talks, to comply with the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and to allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

By Xuefei Chen, People's Daily Online, Stockholm.