Cairo condemns North Korea’s nuclear test, warns of its risk

Egypt has condemned North Korea’s nuclear test, warning of threats to regional security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

The Egyptian ministry expressed worries that the escalating activity could unleash a nuclear arms race in the region.

The statement comes nearly 10 days after the US announced it was withholding millions of dollars in aid to Egypt over human rights concerns. Observers, however, have noted that the move is also linked to Egypt’s relations with North Korea as the US continues to isolate North Korea economically and politically.

In a phone call in July, President Donald Trump gave a thinly veiled warning to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stop its economic cooperation with Pyongyang.

Source: The Associated Press