U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday he is going to take a "very hard look" at the U.S. approach toward North Korea because of what he described as "extraordinarily provocative" actions by Pyongyang.
Mr. Obama said the United States does not intend to continue a policy of rewarding provocation and called on North Korea to respond to diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading Pyongyang to get rid of its nuclear weapons.
The U.S. president made the remarks during a press conference in Normandy with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.
North Korea recently conducted nuclear and missile tests.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Saturday his country will not let North Korea use its nuclear threat to win concessions, and he called for Pyongyang to return to six-party disarmament talks.
In a Memorial Day speech honoring the Korean War dead, Mr. Lee said there will be no compromises with North Korea when the country threatens the South's security.
The statement came the day after the U.S. government indicated it may impose unilateral financial sanctions against North Korea, in addition to whatever punishment the United Nations delivers in response to Pyongyang's recent nuclear and missile tests.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
