US commitment to security 'unshakable'
By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Thursday to work closely to impose strong sanctions against North Korea following its latest nuclear test.
Obama reaffirmed an "unshakable" U.S. commitment to the security of South Korea.
The two leaders held a 20-minute phone conversation one day after the repressive state carried out its fourth nuclear test on Wednesday.
Later in the day, Park also spoke by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss North Korea.
"Park and Obama condemned the test and agreed that North Korea's actions constitute yet another violation of its obligations and commitments under international law, including several U.N. Security Council resolutions," the White House said in a statement.
"The two leaders agreed to work together to forge a united and strong international response to North Korea's latest reckless behavior."
Earlier in the day, the U.N. Security Council agreed to immediately start work on a new sanctions resolution against the North, saying it "strongly condemns" its latest nuclear test.
The U.N. resolutions ban the North from developing nuclear weapons and using ballistic missile technology and the isolated country is already under U.N. sanctions for conducting previous nuclear and missile tests.
The U.S. president also told President Park that the U.S. will strongly commit to defending Seoul from Pyongyang's nuclear threats, adding that it would use all of its deterrence capabilities.
Cheong Wa Dae also issued a statement, which listed, among other points, that the two leaders agreed that the North should pay the price for the nuclear provocation.
The two heads of state also agreed to address the North Korean nuclear issue with the utmost urgency and determination, as they did during their Oct. 16 summit in Washington, D.C.
Park's office added that Park and Obama share views on needs to cooperate with neighboring countries Japan and China to handle the issue.
During the 15-minute phone conversation between Park and Abe, they agreed to closely work together for swift adoption of a strong and effective U.N. resolution to hold the North responsible for its nuclear test despite the international community's repeated calls.
Obama lauds sex slavery deal
Separately, Obama congratulated President Park on the recent agreement reached between Korea and Japan to resolve the longstanding "comfort women" issue.
"The U.S. president commended two of our most important allies for having the courage and vision to forge a lasting settlement to this difficult issue," said the White House.
On Dec. 28, Korea and Japan reached a deal to end a dispute over the latter's sexual enslavement of Korean women for Japanese military brothels during World War II.
However, the victims and civic groups are protesting against the agreement for failing to acknowledge Japan's legal responsibility for its wartime atrocities.
The U.S. urged the Korean and Japanese governments to quickly resolve the issue in order to strengthen their trilateral alliance and contain a rising China.
Seoul asks Beijing to cooperate
Meanwhile, the South Korean government formally asked China to help issue "substantive and effective" punishments against North Korea for its fourth nuclear test.
Seoul's ambassador to Beijing, Kim Jang-soo, conveyed the message to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to an official in Seoul.
South Korea's top diplomat Yun Byung-se also plans to have phone talks with Wang, and a relevant schedule is being discussed, Yun's spokesman Cho June-hyuck said at a press briefing.
"China sent a strong message against North Korea through a foreign ministry statement yesterday," he said. "(We) expect China to cooperate actively in consultations at the U.N. Security Council."
The 15-member council condemned the North's provocation in a presidential statement. Pyongyang claims to have succeeded in testing a hydrogen bomb.
The council said it will take "further significant measures" against the North, adding a new resolution will be discussed.
China, along with Russia, is viewed as holding more say in the process than other countries.
On the North's intentions, Cho echoed many experts' view that the Kim Jong-un regime is attempting to win the status of a nuclear power in a bid to have more playable cards in external relations.
Cho also cited the North's internal politics ahead of the 7th congress of the ruling Workers' Party scheduled for May.
By Kang Seung-woo
 |
| Park Geun-hye |
 |
| Barack Obama |
Obama reaffirmed an "unshakable" U.S. commitment to the security of South Korea.
The two leaders held a 20-minute phone conversation one day after the repressive state carried out its fourth nuclear test on Wednesday.
Later in the day, Park also spoke by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss North Korea.
"Park and Obama condemned the test and agreed that North Korea's actions constitute yet another violation of its obligations and commitments under international law, including several U.N. Security Council resolutions," the White House said in a statement.
"The two leaders agreed to work together to forge a united and strong international response to North Korea's latest reckless behavior."
Earlier in the day, the U.N. Security Council agreed to immediately start work on a new sanctions resolution against the North, saying it "strongly condemns" its latest nuclear test.
The U.N. resolutions ban the North from developing nuclear weapons and using ballistic missile technology and the isolated country is already under U.N. sanctions for conducting previous nuclear and missile tests.
The U.S. president also told President Park that the U.S. will strongly commit to defending Seoul from Pyongyang's nuclear threats, adding that it would use all of its deterrence capabilities.
Cheong Wa Dae also issued a statement, which listed, among other points, that the two leaders agreed that the North should pay the price for the nuclear provocation.
The two heads of state also agreed to address the North Korean nuclear issue with the utmost urgency and determination, as they did during their Oct. 16 summit in Washington, D.C.
Park's office added that Park and Obama share views on needs to cooperate with neighboring countries Japan and China to handle the issue.
During the 15-minute phone conversation between Park and Abe, they agreed to closely work together for swift adoption of a strong and effective U.N. resolution to hold the North responsible for its nuclear test despite the international community's repeated calls.
Obama lauds sex slavery deal
Separately, Obama congratulated President Park on the recent agreement reached between Korea and Japan to resolve the longstanding "comfort women" issue.
"The U.S. president commended two of our most important allies for having the courage and vision to forge a lasting settlement to this difficult issue," said the White House.
On Dec. 28, Korea and Japan reached a deal to end a dispute over the latter's sexual enslavement of Korean women for Japanese military brothels during World War II.
However, the victims and civic groups are protesting against the agreement for failing to acknowledge Japan's legal responsibility for its wartime atrocities.
The U.S. urged the Korean and Japanese governments to quickly resolve the issue in order to strengthen their trilateral alliance and contain a rising China.
Seoul asks Beijing to cooperate
Meanwhile, the South Korean government formally asked China to help issue "substantive and effective" punishments against North Korea for its fourth nuclear test.
Seoul's ambassador to Beijing, Kim Jang-soo, conveyed the message to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to an official in Seoul.
South Korea's top diplomat Yun Byung-se also plans to have phone talks with Wang, and a relevant schedule is being discussed, Yun's spokesman Cho June-hyuck said at a press briefing.
"China sent a strong message against North Korea through a foreign ministry statement yesterday," he said. "(We) expect China to cooperate actively in consultations at the U.N. Security Council."
The 15-member council condemned the North's provocation in a presidential statement. Pyongyang claims to have succeeded in testing a hydrogen bomb.
The council said it will take "further significant measures" against the North, adding a new resolution will be discussed.
China, along with Russia, is viewed as holding more say in the process than other countries.
On the North's intentions, Cho echoed many experts' view that the Kim Jong-un regime is attempting to win the status of a nuclear power in a bid to have more playable cards in external relations.
Cho also cited the North's internal politics ahead of the 7th congress of the ruling Workers' Party scheduled for May.
![[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/286500d853334c96ab51e56d74fe38f2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
