SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates reaffirmed here on Saturday that the United States, Japan and South Korea, along with some other countries, will strengthen cooperation to try to resolve the Korean peninsula nuclear issue.

    Speaking at a joint press briefing on the sidelines of the 8th Asia Security Summit, Gates said that the United States' policy has not changed. Washington's goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and will not accept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a nuclear weapon state.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (C), Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada (L) and South Korea's Defence Minister Lee Sang-he join hands before a trilateral meeting at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore May 30, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Gates said that the DPRK's programs and actions constitute a threat to regional peace and security.

    "We unequivocally reaffirm our commitment to the defense of our allies in the region. The transfer of nuclear weapons or material by the DPRK to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States and our allies. And we would hold the DPRK fully accountable for the consequences of such action," Gates said.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore May 30, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    On the same occasion, Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and South Korea's Minister of National Defense Lee Sang Hee stressed the significance of the trilateral meeting, saying that the three parties will further exchange views and enhance cooperation to solve the problem.

    The annual Asia Security Summit, organized by the London International Institute for Strategic Studies, is being held in Singapore from May 29 to 31.

    The forum brings together about 22 ministerial-level guests, along with parliamentarians, military leaders and security experts from more than 27 countries and regions for discussions on regional security issues and defense cooperation.

Gates: U.S. not to accept DPRK as nuclear weapon state 

    SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States will not accept the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) as a nuclear weapon state, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the 2009 Asian security summit here on Saturday.

    Gates said that the policy of the United States has not changed. "Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," he said.

DPRK vows "further defense measures" if sanctioned for nuclear test

    PYONGYANG, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will take "further defense measures" if the U.N. Security Council sanctions it for its recent nuclear test, the official KCNA news agency said Friday.

    The DPRK "has the right to test nuclear bombs and missiles, which were proper defense measures for it and not in violation of any international law," the KCNA said, citing an unnamed spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry. Full story

Diplomats: Talks on new UN resolution on DPRK underway

    UNITED NATIONS, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5) plus Japan and South Korea have started talks on the text of a draft resolution in response to the recent nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), diplomats said Thursday.

    The draft resolution emerged behind closed doors five days after the DPRK conducted the nuclear test, but diplomats declined to give any further details on the draft resolution being discussed among representatives of the seven countries, P5 plus two. Full story

Korea, U.S. combined forces raise watch level on DPRK

    SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The South Korea- U.S. Combined Command Forces raised the watch level against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by one notch on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing an official.

    According to South Korean defense spokesman Won Tae-jae, the Combined Forces raised the Watchcon system, the process of changing the reconnaissance posture for strategic and tactical warning of attack, at local time 07:15 Thursday (2215 GMT) from Level 3 to Level 2. Full story

DPRK declares to tear up truce agreement

    PYONGYANG, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced Wednesday that it will no longer stand by the ceasefire agreement ending the 1950-53 Korean War, in response to South Korea's participation to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

    South Korea's full participation to the U.S.-led program, aimed at stopping the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction "dragged the Korean peninsula into the state of war," the DPRK said in a three-point statement. Full story