Merkel and Putin urge joint action against NKorea

BERLIN, Oct 11 (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the international community to act together to deter North Korea from its nuclear ambitions after Pyongyang said it had tested a nuclear weapon.

In a double interview with German ARD state television late yesterday, Merkel said the case of Iran had shown that the international community was more effective in coping with such problems when united than when riven with disagreement.

''The world is growing closer together, and hence the various countries need to act together closely (on North Korea),'' Merkel said a day after North Korea said it had conducted an underground nuclear test.

Putin, currently on a visit to Germany, agreed, but was reluctant to say whether sanctions should be applied.

''We need to move from talk of ultimatums and sanctions towards seeing international law prevail in international matters,'' he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Western powers have been at loggerheads with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, although the Islamic Republic says it wants to develop nuclear technology solely for peaceful means.

Putin said for the international community to be able to take action against transgressors, it was important that every country felt it had equal protection under international agreements, regardless of its size and position.

''As long as (transgressors) feel they're discriminated against or they think their security is being violated, they will continue to behave in this way,'' he said.

REUTERS DH RAI0500