The Portuguese government on Tuesday strongly condemned the latest nuclear test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), calling it a serious threat to regional peace.

The test is a further blatant violation of the DPRK's international obligations, in particular those pertaining to the UN Security Council Resolutions, Portuguese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The DPRK's behavior constitutes therefore a serious threat to peace in the Korean peninsula, as well as to regional and international security and will be met by a firm and unified response from the international community," it said.

The DPRK said on Tuesday it has successfully conducted the third underground nuclear test, according to the official KCNA news agency.

The test was part of the country's "practical measures of counteraction" to defend its security and sovereignty against hostile U.S. policies that have violated DPRK's "rights to launch satellite for peaceful purposes," the KCNA said. Endite