Dung made the statement in reply to questions from journalists after the DPRK had announced its nuclear test earlier the same day.

He reiterated Vietnam’s unswerving policy of supporting a ban on all nuclear tests as well as non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and their disarmament worldwide.

“Vietnam fully supports peace, stability and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and is willing to join the international efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region,” emphasised the spokesperson.

“We call on all the relevant parties to exercise restraint and deal with all the emerging complex issues through peaceful solutions, including the resumption of six-party negotiations,” Dung concluded.