Italy decries North Korean 'provocation'

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Italy says Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni will be calling his Japanese counterpart to discuss "the necessary reactions of the international community" to what Rome calls North Korea's "provocation" if it is confirmed that a nuclear test was carried out.

Japan currently holds the rotating helm of the Group of 7 industrialized nations. Italy is a G-7 member.

Italy's foreign ministry said in a statement today that a nuclear test by North Korea would "represent a grave violation of international law and of the pertinent U.N. Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to international and regional peace and security."

The statement added that Gentiloni, "in condemning such a violation, calls on North Korea to honor its international obligations."

North Korea said Wednesday that it has conducted a hydrogen bomb test — a move that would put the country a step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the nuclear weapons test announced by North Korea is a "clear breach" of U.N. Security Council resolutions and "undermines regional and international security."