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SKorea, Japan pursue UN punishment against DPRK nuclear test

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-25 13:36

SEOUL-- South Korean and Japanese foreign ministers said Monday that they would pursue UN-level punishment against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s second nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

Related readings:  North Korea fires short-range missile-Yonhap  DPRK says successfully conducts nuclear test: YONHAP  DPRK to put US reporters on trial  DPRK threatens nuclear, missile tests

The agreement was reached at a meeting held between South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone in Hanoi, Vietnam on the sidelines of the Asia- Europe Meeting (ASEM).

The ministers called for the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency meeting as soon as possible, Yonhap said, quoting a senior South Korean official.

South Korean Foreign Minister will have more discussions with his counterparts from other nations, including China and Russia, who are also attending the ASEM forum in Vietnam, Yonhap added.

Earlier in the day, South Korea's presidential office reported it has detected an "artificial earthquake" in the DPRK, which was later confirmed by the DPRK as its 2nd nuclear test.

The test site is located 10 to 15 km away from the first site in Kilju in North Hamkyong Province.

The DPRK has recently threatened to conduct another nuclear test after the U.N. Security Council announced a presidential statement condemning the April 5 rocket launch.