Seoul, Washington say Pyongyang will not gain through provocation

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak reiterated his
call Thursday for a strong, unified reaction to North Korea's recent nuclear test
while calling on the communist nation to halt any attempt to further escalate
tension in the region.

Lee's call came in a meeting with a U.S. delegation led by Deputy Secretary of
State James Steinberg, who said Pyongyang is mistaken if it believes it can get
anything from the United States through provocations, Seoul's presidential office
Cheong Wa Dae said.
"We will only be able to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue if the
international community sends a clear warning against North Korea's wrong
behavior by adopting a U.N. Security Council resolution and if all the related
countries try to convince the North with one voice," Lee was quoted as telling
the visiting U.S. officials.
Pyongyang claims to have conducted its second nuclear test on May 25. Seoul
strongly condemned the provocative act as a serious threat to peace while
Washington is seeking a U.N. Security Council resolution that will place
additional sanctions on the communist North.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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