TORONTO : Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he asked Chinese President Hu Jintao in talks here Sunday to condemn North Korea`s alleged sinking of a South Korean warship.

Citing a G8 summit declaration Saturday condemning the attack that left 46 people dead, Kan said he "encouraged China to move in a similar direction," pointing out to Hu that Beijing`s condemnation was "necessary."

North Korea is an ally of China, which provides vital economic and diplomatic support to the impoverished and unpredictable neighbor.

An international group of investigators concluded last month that the South Korean ship was sunk by a North Korean torpedo, a finding that triggered international condemnation of Pyongyang.

Beijing, however, has issued only mild calls for restraint and offered condolences to families of the dead and refused to condemn the North.

Kan did not say how Hu responded to his call but Japanese officials said the Chinese leader urged the international community to be calm and not jump to conclusions.

It was the first meeting between Kan and Hu since the Japanese Prime Minister took office earlier this month.

Russia, which is a G8 member, also joined the condemnation in a surprise move.
Kan said that he led the discussions at the G8 summit on the March 26 sinking incident and called on his counterparts to condemn the attack.

Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev "did not present any refutation to this," Kan said.
Pyongyang has angrily denied any responsibility and threatened military retaliation if it is slapped with international censure.

BDST : 0910 HRS , June 28, 2010
SIS