We protest the government of North Korea's nuclear weapons test, as
every nuclear test is a nuclear attack on people - their health and
the land on which they depend and hold as sacred. At the same time we
join with nuclear abolitionists around the world in affirming the
obligation of EVERY country possessing nuclear weapons to renounce
nuclear proliferation as a means to achieve security and international
recognition. We believe that North Korea is seeking to use nuclear
weapons to pressure the United States to grant bilateral talks and
security assurances, rather than planning to use these weapons in war.
For this reason and because of the unacceptable consequences of
violence, we urge the United States to foreswear any nuclear or
conventional attack against the people of North Korea. We affirm the
following statement by our fellow activists of Peace Boat, Japan:

"1. On the morning of October 9, the government of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced that they had carried out a nuclear
test. We protest strongly against this. Nuclear tests threaten the lives
of all inhabitants of the surrounding area, and nuclear development will
aggravate the hunger, poverty and suppression of human rights of the
people of the DPRK. The possession of nuclear weapons poses a serious
threat to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, East Asia and to the entire world.
We call strongly for the DPRK government to immediately cease all
further nuclear testing and development of nuclear weapons, and to take
prompt action towards the complete abandonment of nuclear weapons
programs.

2. The failure of the Bush administration's antagonistic diplomatic
policy is clear, in that statements that the DPRK is part of the 'axis
of evil' and continuing policies of military and economic pressure have
only escalated tensions and led to the DPRK's conducting nuclear weapons
tests. Pressure without dialogue cannot lead to any form of resolution.
Any military response or pressure will only exacerbate the nuclear
crisis and could trigger an armed confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
Now more than ever, we believe that a fundamental change in the hostile
policies towards the DPRK is necessary.

3. Each country's government must undertake immediate diplomacy directed
towards dialogue with the DPRK in order to resolve the current crisis
peacefully. This dialogue should be based on the comprehensive framework
provided by the Six-Party Joint Statement of September 2005, in which
the DPRK committed to abandon its nuclear program, and Japan and the US
committed to guarantee the DPRK's security and make efforts toward
normalization of diplomatic relations and economic cooperation. The six
governments must immediately use all possible means to hold high-level
dialogue with the DPRK, such as convening an emergency Six-Party Summit
and/or proceeding with direct bilateral dialogue. The same principles
must also be applied from now in the UN Security Council's deliberations.

4. Based on the terrible suffering of humanity in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
we seek anew for the urgent and total abolition of nuclear weapons. We
are certain that the hibakusha (atomic bombing survivors) of the Korean
Peninsula who still suffer from the effects of the atomic bomb share the
same wish. Nuclear-weapon states, including the US in particular, have not
complied with the international agreements made in good faith that they
would pursue and conclude nuclear disarmament negotiations. We call for
all nuclear-weapon states to take concrete action towards the abolition
of nuclear weapons and also for an immediate commencement of
negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention to comprehensively
prohibit nuclear weapons. We strongly oppose any attempts by Japan or
other neighboring countries to use the DPRK's nuclear test as an excuse
to develop their own nuclear armaments."

Peace Boat Emergency Statement in Protest at the North Korean Nuclear
Tests and a Call for Immediate Dialogue
October 9, 2006
Peace Boat Executive Committee Members
Kawasaki Akira, Kushibuchi Mari, Yoshioka Tatsuya

Other article:
All Nine Nuclear Powers Are Violating Non-Proliferation Treaty
by By Scott Galindez at t r u t h o u t