S. Korean, Russian presidents agree on 'strong' measure against N. Korea

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev agreed Wednesday to join efforts in dealing with North
Korea while calling for a "strong reaction" by the international community to
punish the North for its second nuclear test, a spokesman for South Korea's
presidential office said.

The joint call came in a telephone conversation between the two leaders, two days
after North Korea claimed success in its second nuclear detonation.
"President Lee asked the Russian president to continue taking special interest in
the issue so the U.N. Security Council can make a swift and strong resolution"
against the North, the spokesman, Lee Dong-kwan, said.
Medvedev said he agreed with the need for a new and strong resolution against
Pyongyang, according to the spokesman.
North Korea is currently prohibited from any nuclear or long-range missile
activities under a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted shortly after its
first nuclear test in 2006. Medvedev affirmed that North Korea's latest action
was a "clear violation" of the resolution, the spokesman said.
"President Medvedev said North Korea's irresponsible act was a threat to world
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and said the two countries must work
closely together to prevent
such developments in the future," spokesman Lee said in a press briefing.
Russia, a longtime ally of North Korea, is a veto-wielding permanent member of
the U.N. Security Council and currently holds the council's rotating presidency.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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