US, S Korea ask DPRK to scrap nukes

They warned that any North Korean use of weapons of mass destruction would have the "gravest consequences."

The warning was included in a joint communique from US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and South Korean Defense Minister Cho Young-Kil following annual security talks here.

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"The secretary and the minister called on North Korea to completely, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear weapons programs and to cease the testing, development and export of weapons of mass destruction, missiles and related technologies," the communique said.

The two emphasized that North Korea's continued development of weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles, along with the danger of exporting those weapons and technologies, were "causes of significant concern for the alliance and the international community."

The two agreed to maintain a strong combined defensive capability to deter North Korean threats, and Rumsfeld reaffirmed the US commitment to the continued provision of a nuclear umbrella for South Korea.

At a meeting with Roh later in the day, Rumsfeld welcomed Seoul's decision to send 3,000 more troops to Iraq and reaffirmed the US pledge to maintain a strong military presence in South Korea as a deterrence to the North, Roh's aides said.