The New Zealand government Tuesday condemned the reported nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the DPRK continued to blatantly defy United Nations Security Council (US) resolutions, which was "of deep concern and represents a significant threat to peace and security in the region."

"North Korea is in breach of its international obligations and its recent action flies in the face of nuclear disarmament and non- proliferation efforts, to which New Zealand is strongly committed, " McCully said in a statement.

"The international community must send a strong message to North Korea that this path is a dead end. New Zealand stands ready to support timely and significant action by the US in response to this latest test."

New Zealand continued to urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, and instead to focus its energy on improving the lives of its people and on engaging constructively with the international community, he said.

The DPRK's two previous nuclear weapons tests had led to US resolutions and sanctions, he said.