Obama: N. Korea's past acts won't work now

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- North Korea must end its pattern of belligerence and return to denuclearization talks as a path for peace, U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

The United States, South Korea and other members of the international community will respond strongly to provocative actions taken by North Korea, Obama said in a joint media availability with visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

"There is a path for North Korea to take" if it wishes to be a member of the international community, Obama said. "But in order to take that path, North Korea has to make a decision and understand that prestige and security and prosperity are not going to come through the path of threatening neighbors and engaging in violations of international law."

"We will pursue denuclearization on the Korean peninsula vigorously, so we have not come to a conclusion that North Korea will or should be a nuclear power," Obama said.

Lee said Pyongyang's bellicose rhetoric and actions in response to U.N. Security Council sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests last month "was as expected."

The message from the international community is that "belligerent, provocative behavior that threatens neighbors will be met with significant and serious enforcement of sanctions that are in place," Obama said.

Among the sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council Friday is interdiction of arms North Korea is shipping overseas. Obama said "all relevant actors" are discussing how to enforce the sanction.

South Korea has been firm in its response and prepared for any action North Korea may take because of its alliance with the United States, Lee said.

"And North Koreans, when they look at the firm partnership and alliance that we have ... they will think twice about taking any measures that they will regret," Lee said.