M'SIA CONCERNED OVER NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR TEST

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has expressed concern over North
Korea's latest nuclear test, with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying it could
destabilise the Korean peninsula.

"I'm concerned that North Korea's display of nuclear capability will further
heighten the tension in the Korean peninsula and affect the whole East Asian
region," he told reporters.

Najib was asked to comment on Pyongyang's announcement Monday that it had
successfully carried out an underground nuclear test, an act which received
worldwide condemnation.

North Korea declared that "The current nuclear test was safely conducted on
a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology."

This is North Korea's second nuclear test after the one in 2006.

Najib hoped that the issue could be dealt with through the six-party talks
as well as through the United Nations Security Council.

The six-party talks, chaired by China and involve the two Koreas, North
Korea and South Korea, the United States, Russia and Japan, seeks to find a
peaceful solution to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.
-- BERNAMA