Nuclear concerns: South Korea says it believes the North will press on with the test unless talks resume. [File photo]
Last Update: Thursday, October 5, 2006. 1:35am (AEST)

Seoul warns N Korea of nuclear sanctions

South Korea has warned North Korea it will pay a heavy price if it carries out its threatened nuclear test, saying the hermit state is set to press ahead unless talks resume.

President Roh Moo-Hyun, who has vowed a "resolute and cool-headed" response to Tuesday's threat, says his Government must try to persuade the North to hold off.

He has told a Cabinet meeting South Korea should also "take measures to let North Korea surely know the outcome of an actual test".

Unification Minister Lee Jong-Seok says Seoul will halt economic aid worth tens of millions of dollars to its impoverished communist neighbour if it explodes a nuclear device.

The Defence Ministry says South Korea has ordered its armed forces to prepare for any contingency.

Situation rooms will be staffed around the clock, surveillance of North Korea will be strengthened and the military will step up readiness near land and sea borders with the North.

North Korea said on Tuesday it would be compelled to carry out a test at an unspecified date and under safe conditions, in response to what it called a "threat of nuclear war and sanctions" from the United States.

Seoul has urged its neighbour to return quickly and unconditionally to stalled disarmament talks.

The Unification Minister has told legislators Seoul believes Pyongyang's statement "is aimed at pressuring the United States to change its stance" towards it.

"However, (the Government) believes there is a high possibility of a nuclear test if efforts to resume the six-party talks end in failure," he said.

The negotiations aim to end the North's nuclear program in return for economic benefits and security guarantees. They group the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia.

The North has boycotted the talks since November over US financial sanctions imposed in September last year.

- AFP