Roh, Bush agree on calm, strategic response to N. Korea's nuclear test

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush spoke by telephone on Monday evening (Seoul time) and agreed to deal with North Korea's self-proclaimed nuclear test calmly and strategically, Roh's spokesman Yoon Tae-young said.

In the 15-minute conversation that began shortly after 9 p.m., Roh and Bush discussed countermeasures and issues of common interest regarding the North's provocative act, according to spokesman Yoon Tae-young.

"President Bush put forward three directions for countermeasures, saying the U.S. will respond in a restrained and cool-headed manner, strengthen its cooperation with South Korea and other international partners, and support the ongoing U.N. discussions on North Korea," said Yoon.

"In response, President Roh explained the South Korean government's stern measures against North Korea and denounced the North's action as a disappointing and provocative act," he said.

Roh also suggested that South Korea, the U.S. and other concerned nations deliver a concerted warning message to North Korea. Roh and Bush held a summit in Washington last month and agreed to pursue a common and broad approach to the North Korean nuclear dispute. Following the phone talks with Roh, Bush issued a statement in Washington saying that North Korea's reported nuclear test poses a threat to global peace and security. He denounced it as "unacceptable."

Bush said the action calls for an immediate response by the UN Security Council. He also said the transfer of nuclear weapons or materials would constitute a grave threat to the United States, and North Korea would be held fully accountable.

"Once again, North Korea has defied the will of the international community, and the international community will respond," Bush said.

Seoul/Washington, Oct. 9 (Yonhap News)