Beijing, Tokyo join Seoul's call for 'stern' reaction to N. Korean rocket

PATTAYA, April 11 (Yonhap) -- China and Japan joined South Korea Saturday in calling for a "unified, stern" response to North Korea's recent launch of a rocket, the South Korean presidential office said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to discuss North Korea and other matters of mutual
concern. They were in Thailand for a regional summit of leaders.
"The heads of the three countries agreed the world must send a strong message to
North Korea in a unified voice in regard to the North's launch of a long-range
rocket," Seoul's presidential office said in a statement after the three-way
summit.
Despite a chorus of international warnings, North Korea launched a long-range
rocket Sunday in what it claimed was a program to put a communications satellite
into orbit, but Seoul, Tokyo and Washington believe it was a disguise for a
long-range missile test.
At the request of the U.S. and Japan, the U.N. Security Council is working how to
respond to the North's menacing rocket launch. China and Russia, which have veto
power, oppose imposing any new sanctions against Pyongyang.
The three leaders agreed that ways to deal with North Korea should be decided at
the U.N. Security Council, according to South Korean officials.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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