The France-Korea Friendship Association noted in a statement on Feb. 13 that the DPRK conducted the 3rd underground nuclear test to cope with the moves of the U.S. and its allies to stifle the DPRK.

The statement continued:

The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK, clarifying its stance to defend the supreme interests of the country in its statement, warned that if the U.S. persistently takes a hostile approach towards the DPRK, making the situation complicated, the DPRK will be left with no option but to take stronger second and third countermeasures in succession.

It is the fair public opinion that the U.S. attempted to suffocate the DPRK, but it could not bring its people to their knees and sanctions and pressure no longer work on it.

We extend solidarity to the people of the DPRK all out to defend its sovereignty to cope with the prevailing situation and bitterly condemn the moves of the U.S. to create world-wide atmosphere of stifling it in the UN arena.

If the U.S. truly wants peace and security in the world, it must roll back its hostile policy towards the DPRK at once.

The Switzerland-Korea Committee and the Swiss Group for the Study of the Juche Idea in a joint statement on Feb. 14 stressed that the DPRK's nuclear test can never be a violation of international law.

The statement went on:

It is quite natural for the DPRK to take tough countermeasures to cope with the ever-escalating nuclear threat from the U.S. imperialists.

If the U.S. persistently pursues the policy for invading the DPRK, it will continue taking measures for self-defence. In case the U.S. chooses the road of conflict in the end, the army and people of the DPRK will defend its sovereignty without fail and accomplish the cause of national reunification.

We support the statement of the spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry and send solidarity to the Korean people.

U.S., hands off Korea!