Defense ministry officials in South Korea say now is not the appropriate time to hold military talks with North Korea.
North Korea made the offer of talks before Wednesday's launch of seven missiles, which has sparked international condemnation and a diplomatic crisis.
The U.N. Security Council is considering a proposal by Japan that would prevent the transfer of funds, technology, or goods that would benefit North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton says the measure has broad backing in the 15-member Security Council. However, Russia and China want a weaker resolution that condemns Wednesday's missile tests but does not include sanctions.
President Bush said on Thursday that he is seeking a unified stance with other world leaders to diplomatically solve the standoff with North Korea following the tests. Mr. Bush says one way to persuade North Korea to adhere to international standards is through the U.N. Security Council.
The top U.S. envoy to the North Korean nuclear talks, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, has arrived in Beijing to discuss the crisis with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei. He is scheduled to continue on to Seoul and Tokyo for further talks.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Wu is going to Pyongyang next week.
Meanwhile, local media is reporting that Australia, one of the few countries to maintain relations with North Korea, will be curtailing those ties in response to the missile tests.
North Korea says the tests were successful and that it will carry out more launches. But the U.S. Department of Defense says none of the seven missiles posed any threat to the United States. It says the one long-range missile flew less than a minute after launch.
North Korea made the offer of talks before Wednesday's launch of seven missiles, which has sparked international condemnation and a diplomatic crisis.
The U.N. Security Council is considering a proposal by Japan that would prevent the transfer of funds, technology, or goods that would benefit North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton says the measure has broad backing in the 15-member Security Council. However, Russia and China want a weaker resolution that condemns Wednesday's missile tests but does not include sanctions.
President Bush said on Thursday that he is seeking a unified stance with other world leaders to diplomatically solve the standoff with North Korea following the tests. Mr. Bush says one way to persuade North Korea to adhere to international standards is through the U.N. Security Council.
The top U.S. envoy to the North Korean nuclear talks, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, has arrived in Beijing to discuss the crisis with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei. He is scheduled to continue on to Seoul and Tokyo for further talks.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Wu is going to Pyongyang next week.
Meanwhile, local media is reporting that Australia, one of the few countries to maintain relations with North Korea, will be curtailing those ties in response to the missile tests.
North Korea says the tests were successful and that it will carry out more launches. But the U.S. Department of Defense says none of the seven missiles posed any threat to the United States. It says the one long-range missile flew less than a minute after launch.