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Hu, Bush discuss nuclear issue

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks late on Monday with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush on bilateral ties and the DPRK nuclear test.

Mr. Hu said Beijing had issued a statement demanding the DPRK to stop any activity that might worsen the situation. It also called for a policy of peaceful resolution through talks.

The Chinese President said it was China's firm stand to realise non-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and oppose proliferation of nuclear weapons. Mr. Bush said the nuclear test was a dangerous move which deserved a public, calm and resolute response from the international community.

At the United Nations, China's Ambassador called on Tuesday for ``some punitive actions'' against North Korea.

``We need to have a firm, constructive, appropriate but prudent response to North Korea's nuclear test,'' Wang Guangya told reporters before a meeting with his counterparts from member-States of the Security Council and Japan. ``I think there has to be some punitive actions but also these actions have to be appropriate,'' he added.

Representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council and Japan began meeting at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) to consider proposals from Washington and Tokyo to impose economic sanctions against North Korea.

Australian response

Australia is considering expelling North Korea's Ambassador over the nuclear test, said Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in Sydney on Tuesday.

``Any decision to kick the Ambassador out will be an on-balance judgment,'' Mr. Downer said in a radio interview. ``In the end, probably the balance favours us maintaining some dialogue with them, as they're an Asia-Pacific country.'' — Agencies

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