Pak stamp in N Korea N-test: India

On Board PM's Plane: Joining the international community in deploring North Korea's atomic test, India on Monday sought to highlight Pakistani link to Pyongyang's nuclear programme and its repurcussion on security and stability in the region.

New Delhi also expressed confidence that North Korea's action will not have any bearing on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal as the bilateral agreement, also called 123 agreeement, is still being negotiated.

As soon as North Korea conducted the tests on Monday morning, India talked to various countries particularly North Korea's neighbours like China and Japan besides the permanent members of Group of Five.

The exercise will continue in the coming days. India is also of the view that North Korea has violated its commitment as a signatory to the safegaurd agreement of the IAEA.

"We are deeply concerned at the test," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.

"It is unfortunate that the DPRK has conducted the test in violation of its internmational commitments, jeopardising peace, stability and security on the Korean penunisila and in the region, Sarna said.

New Delhi's concerns are particularly over the clandestine proliferation aspect of North Korea's atomic programme which has been helped by Pakistan.

Officials pointed out that Pakistani support to North Korea's nuke programme has been going on for decades and continued even after the exit from the scene of A Q Khan, the disgraced father of Pakistan's nuclear programme.

"It (N Korean test) highlights the dangers of clandestine proliferation, Sarna said adding India was monitoring the situation and is in close touch with several countries.

Pakistan is known to have been helping North Korea's nuclear programme by supplying centrifuges and other materials.

Government emphasised that any attempt to compare North Korea's test with India's nuclear detotanations of 1998 would be "ridiculous."

While North Korea has certain obligations as it is a signatory of safegaurds agreement, India has till date not inked any such pact.

Besides, there is no element of clandestine proliferation in India's nuclear programme which has been open and clear, officials said. India's strategic nuclear programme is known to everybody.