Boston (September 9, 2016) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, today condemned North Korea’s nuclear weapons test, its second this year and fifth test since 2006. North Korea’s test reaffirms the value of the International Monitoring System (IMS), the global system of monitoring stations established to verify compliance with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The IMS detected North Korea’s nuclear explosion, as it did the four preceding tests.

“North Korea’s latest nuclear test is further proof of the danger the country’s actions pose to global peace and stability. We must continue to isolate North Korea by tightening sanctions and strengthening international institutions meant to detect and deter nuclear tests. North Korea’s actions also demonstrate the importance of multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations to promote the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and reinforce the norm against nuclear test explosions. Only by working with our international partners will the United States be able to pressure North Korea to return to disarmament negotiations.”