Foreign ministers from member countries of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) have adopted a joint statement urging North Korea and other countries -- which have yet to sign the treaty -- to halt nuclear tests and to abandon nuclear weapons.

The statement also called on non-member countries to join the treaty.

During a U.N. session, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for support by the international community for the treaty to take effect by 2012.

The CTBT, which was opened for signature in 1996, has been signed by 182 countries and ratified by 153 so far. However, the treaty will not come into force until nine countries, including the United States and North Korea, ratify it.