Obama, Kan, Cameron call on China to take firm stance on N.K.

 

 

U.S. President Barack Obama told President Lee Myung-bak over the phone Wednesday that China should take a more firm stance on North Korea, a day after the North’s artillery firing killed two marines on a South Korean island.

 

“President Obama said China should take a more resolute stance on North Korea and that he would speak to the Chinese leadership for more cooperation in dealing with Pyongyang,” Lee’s spokesperson Kim Hee-jung said in a press briefing.

 

“President Lee said he expected Beijing to collaborate as the North has disclosed its high enriched uranium program, which it had denied so far, and attacked civilians.”

 

During the 30-minute telephone conversation, Obama also explained about the dispatch of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the West Sea and suggested holding more ROK-U.S. joint military drills if necessary, Kim said.

 

Lee and Obama agreed that Tuesday’s indiscriminate attack was a premeditated provocation which must be met with stronger sanctions. They also vowed to send a message to the North that it must change its attitude if it wants dialogue.

 

Seoul and Washington pledged a strong joint response on the attack through close consultations round the clock, according to Kim.

 

Lee also received phone calls from Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.

 

He thanked them all for immediately condemning the North for its military provocation and supporting the South.

 

Lee, Obama and Kan agreed to intensify working-level cooperation regarding policies on North Korea and closely work together to end provocations by the communist regime, according to Kim.　

 

Like Obama, Kan and Cameron pledged to deliver the message to China that it must take a stern attitude toward the North, underscoring Beijing’s role in changing the reclusive state.

 

“North Korea must take due responsibility and its acts must be denounced by the international community,” Cameron was quoted as saying by Kim.

 

“All nations of the European Union share this view with Britain.”

 

Britain holds the rotating UNSC presidency this month.

 

Lee is scheduled to preside over an emergency meeting on security and economic affairs Thursday morning to discuss ways to minimize the impact of the North Korean attack on the South Korean economy.

 

Ministers and Lee’s top aides related to security and economic affairs will attend the meeting on the implications of the North’s provocation.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates shared the view that the North’s attack was a “carefully planned and premeditated, intentional provocation” during a telephone conversation.

 

During the 20-minute dialogue, Kim and Gates assessed the situation and discussed countermeasures, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.

 

Kim explained how the South Korean military fired back for self-defense, and Gates promised that the U.S. will provide utmost support through close consultations.

 

Kim and Gates also “agreed to further solidify the ROK-U.S. allied defense posture, deter additional provocations by the North and make every effort to prevent an escalation of the armed clash, according to the ministry.

 

North Korea on Tuesday fired around 170 rounds of coastal artillery and howitzers towards Yeonpyeong Island, some of which fell on the island. The bombardment killed at least four marine soldiers and civilians, and wounded 20 others, including four civilians.

 

The Source: The Korea Herald