Obama asks Hu to send ‘clear message’ to North Korea

US President Barack Obama today asked his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to “send a clear message” to North Korea that its provocations like shelling of the South Korean territory were “unacceptable”.

US President Barack Obama with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Obama called Hu to discuss the situation in the Korean peninsula and other international issues.

“The President emphasised the need for North Korea to halt its provocative behaviour and to meet its international obligations, including its commitments in the 2005 Six Party Joint Declaration,” the White House said in a statement issued in the wee hours of Monday.

Hu told Obama that a “cool and rational” response from all sides is needed on the crisis in the Korean peninsula, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two Presidents discussed their common interest in peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the priority of ensuring the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.