Seoul, Washington vow not to reward N. Korea's threatening behavior

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead paras; UPDATES with additional remarks from South
Korean president, Clinton, changes throughout)
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, June 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on North Korea Monday to immediately
halt its provocative actions, saying "bad behavior" will not be tolerated or
rewarded.

Pyongyang threatened last week to restart its nuclear weapons program, refusing
to recognize or abide by a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned its
latest nuclear test conducted May 25.
"Secretary Clinton said North Korea must understand that bad behavior will always
bring bad consequences, while stressing the need for strong cooperation between
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan," Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for South Korea's
presidential office, said of the Lee-Clinton meeting.
Lee arrived here earlier Monday on a three-day official visit. He will hold
summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday.
"As long as the United States and its allies maintain a firm stance, North
Korea's belief that it will be rewarded for its bad behavior if it waits long
enough will dissipate," President Lee was quoted as telling Clinton.
He expressed appreciation for Washington's support of Seoul's North Korea policy,
calling it a "significant start" for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue,
the spokesman said.
"The countries (South Korea and the U.S.) are currently in what you can call a
"sanctions mode," but this is based on a premise that it will eventually lead to
dialogue and then resolution of the problem," the spokesman told a press
briefing.
Lee also called for increased cooperation with Japan, China and Russia in dealing
with North Korea's provocative actions.
The countries, along with South Korea and the United States, have been part of
six-way negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear ambition, but the talks have
stalled since late last year. Lee has said he will propose to Obama a resumption
of the talks without Pyongyang's participation to discuss ways to have North
Korea give up its nuclear weapons.
Lee and Clinton also exchanged views on the alliance between their countries,
ahead of a joint statement expected at Tuesday summit on the development of what
has largely been a military alliance into a comprehensive, strategic partnership.
The so-called "Joint Vision" for the Korea-U.S. alliance will be proof of the two
countries' strong will to strengthen and expand their relationship, Lee said,
according to his spokesman.
Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the joint defense of South Korea while
expressing hope that the expansion of cooperation between the countries will
further contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the world, the
spokesman said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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