US President Barack Obama warned North Korea to end its "belligerent approach" after discussing the escalating threats with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The talks follow similar critcism at a G8 meeting in London.
US President Barack Obama, who spoke alongside UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon after talks in the White House Thursday, said, "Nobody wants to see a conflict on the Korean Peninsula," but that the US is ready to take necessary measures to defend itself.
"We both agree that now is the time for North Korea to end the belligerent approach they have taken and to try to lower temperatures," Obama told reporters.
"It's important for North Korea, like every other country in the world, to observe basic rules and norms," he said, adding that Washington would "continue to try to work to resolve some of those issues diplomatically.”
Earlier Thursday, Group of Eight foreign ministers including US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned North Korea's nuclear activities "in the strongest possible terms," and warned of tougher sanctions to come.
North Korea and Syria topped the agenda as foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States met in London.
In a statement issued at the close of talks the G8 ministers condemned "in the strongest possible terms the continued development of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including its uranium enrichment."
The ministers said North Korea was acting in "direct violation" of four UN Security Council resolutions, saying the country should refrain from "further provocative acts" or risk further sanctions.
The statement said they were ready to "take further significant measures in the event of a further launch or nuclear test by the DPRK."
The meeting came a day after South Korea raised its "Watchcon" alert to 3, which reflects perceived indications of a "vital threat," in response to alleged rocket deployments in the North. On Thursday, South Korean state-funded broadcaster KBS quoted military officials saying that North Korea could test-launch several missiles imminently and simultaneously.
According to the South's Yonhap News Agency, military satellite pictures indicated that five mobile launchers had been positioned in North Korea's eastern province of South Hamkyung.
The UN imposed further sanctions against Pyongyang following its third nuclear test in February. Joint US-South Korean military exercises last month prompted North Korea to issue a string of threats.
hc/ch (Reuters, AFP, AP) dw de
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