Seoul Summit: US, South Korea and China Highlight Nuclear Terror Threat

A near united voice was raised at the global nuclear security summit at Seoul as world leaders echoed the need for tackling the threat of nuclear arms falling into the hands of terrorists.

The meeting was dominated by the threat of nuclear terrorism and the issues of better security for nuclear materials and facilities and prevention of illegal trafficking in nuclear materials.

While the threat of nuclear terrorism was termed grave by the host, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, US President Barack Obama said there was no room for complacency in dealing with the menace of nuclear terrorism. China's Hu Jintao called for united action against the threat.

Though the Seoul summit was meant to draw global attention in tackling the threat of nuclear- armed terrorists, the atmosphere was dominated by North Korea's planned rocket launch in mid- April.

Japan urged the international community to strongly demand self-restraint on the part of Pyongyang.

"The planned missile launch by North Korea would go against the international community's nuclear non-proliferation effort and violate UN Security Council resolutions," Reuters quoted Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as saying in his opening speech.

Pyongyang has made it clear that it would be launching a rocket to place a weather satellite in orbit to mark the 100 birth anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung sometime in 12-16, April.

The move has triggered stern reactions from countries in the region and Japan has even declared its plans to intercept and bring down the rocket if it flies towards the country.

At the same time, the US is seeing the move as violation of the UN resolution on a deal to access US food aid.

North Korea and Iran were not the on the list of invitees to the two-day summit which was attended by nearly 60 world leaders.