Seoul FM calls for strong international sanctions on North nuke test

South Korea Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called on the international community Monday to impose strong sanctions against North Korea if it conducts another nuclear test. Yun made the call in a meeting with Catherine Ashton, as the European Union's high representative on foreign policy in New York. Yun is on a five-day visit to New York to lead United Nations activities as Seoul holds a one-month presidency at the U.N. Security Council in May. "If North Korea carries out a fresh nuclear test or fres mid-range missiles, the international community should slap strong sanctions on Pyongyang enough to put the kibosh on the issue," Yun said, urging the EU's support for ending the North's nuclear program. In response, Ashton vowed to back South Korea's stance on the North Korean nuclear issue and other matters concerning the Korean Peninsula. Last month, North Korea threatened to conduct a "new form" of nuclear test, raising fears over the possibility of an imminent nuclear test. South Korea's defense ministry then said that increased activities at the North's underground nuclear test facility have been spotted. So far, North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests, in 2006, 2009 and 2013. The six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to drop its nuclear ambitions have been dormant since late 2008. The negotiations involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.