Seoul: Obama says will use all means to protect South Korea from N Korea threat

SEOUL – South Korea’s presidential office said on Friday US President Barack Obama had indicated he would take every action under a mutual defence treaty with the South, including providing its nuclear umbrella, to protect Seoul from any North Korean threat.

Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye talked by telephone, South Korea’s Blue House said, after a seismic event was recorded in North Korea that Seoul and Tokyo described as a nuclear test.

South Korea’s presidential office said the two leaders agreed to use every available means to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, including adopting a new UN Security Council resolution.