US, ROK urge DPRK to end provocation

WASHINGTON - Foreign and defense ministers of the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) on Thursday urged Pyongyang to end its provocative behavior, saying a path for the North to "rejoin the international community" remains open.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also vowed to defend ROK "through the full range of US military capabilities" after concluding the so-called "two-plus-two" security talks with their ROK counterparts Kim Sung-Hwan and Kim Kwan Jin in Washington.

"The ministers urged North Korea to cease its provocative behavior, live up to its obligations and commitments, and abide by the terms of the 1953 Armistice Agreement," said a joint statement released after the one-day talks.

"North Korea's pattern of defiance and provocative actions, combined with its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, constitutes a serious threat to the alliance, Northeast Asia and international peace and security," said the statement, referring to the Washington-Seoul alliance "a linchpin" of stability, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and increasingly around the world.

The US and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reached an agreement in late February, under which the latter agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment, nuclear and long-range missile tests and allow UN inspectors back to the country in return for 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance by Washington.

DPRK's decision to press ahead with a launch of an "earth observation" satellite on April 13 prompted Washington to suspend its planned food aid.

Speculation was rife about a third nuclear test by Pyongyang following the failed satellite launch. However, DPRK said last week that it has no plans to conduct a third nuclear test "at present".

"Sharing grave concern over recent provocative behavior by North Korea, the United States reaffirmed its continuing commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea through the full range of US military capabilities, both conventional and nuclear," said the joint statement.

"The ministers called on North Korea to fulfill its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and choose a path toward peace," the statement said, referring to the mechanism that involves Japan, Russia and China.

"The ministers noted that a path for North Korea to rejoin the international community remains available if it refrains from provocations and complies with its international obligations and commitments, which include taking concrete actions toward denuclearization," the statement added.

Addressing a joint press conference, Clinton said DPRK "must abandon its nuclear weapons and all existing nuclear programs, including programs for uranium enrichment."

Naval forces of ROK, the US and Japan are scheduled to stage a joint drill next week in waters off ROK's southern island of Jeju, while Seoul and Washington are set to launch a separate, three-day drill on June 23 in waters off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.