BERLIN - Germany denounced the latest nuclear test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), calling for the international community to renew severe sanctions against Pyongyang, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Tuesday.

Germany said the third nuclear test by the DPRK was a "new and blatant breach of the UN Security Council resolutions," and the international community must take a clear stance to counter the "gross provocation," according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

More sanctions against Pyongyang "must now be taken into consideration," it added.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "gravely concerned about the negative impact of this deeply destabilising act" as the UN Security Council prepared to hold an emergency session to deal with its aftermath.

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.