Endless process

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sKorea reportedly tested two more short-range missiles Tuesday, a day after detonating a nuclear bomb underground, pushing the regime further into a confrontation with world powers despite the threat of UN action. Associated Press news agency reported that two missiles -- one ground-to-air, the other ground-to-ship -- with a range of about 130 kilometres were test-fired from an east coast launchpad.

Pyongyang also warned ships to stay away from waters off its western coast this week, a sign it may be gearing up for more missile tests, a South Korean coast guard said.

North Korea is "trying to test whether they can intimidate the international community" with its nuclear and missile activity, said Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations. "But we are united, North Korea is isolated and pressure on North Korea will increase," Rice said. On Monday, President Barack Obama assailed Pyongyang, accusing it of engaging in "reckless" actions that have endangered the region, and the North accused Washington of hostility.

North Korea appeared to be displaying its might following its underground atomic test that the UN Security Council condemned as a "clear violation" of a 2006 resolution banning the regime from developing its nuclear programme.

France called for new sanctions, while the US and Japan pushed for strong action against North Korea for testing a bomb that Russian officials said was comparable in power to those dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. China said it "resolutely opposed" North Korea's test and urged Pyongyang to return to talks on ending its atomic programmes.

Russia, once a key backer of North Korea, condemned the test. Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current Security Council president, said the 15-member council would begin work "quickly" on a new resolution. But many question now whether new punishment would have any effect on a nation already penalised by numerous sanctions and clearly dismissive of the Security Council's jurisdiction.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said North Korea's only viable option was to return to the six-party talks on disarmament, and continue exchanges and cooperation with South Korea.

North Korea's nuclear test raises worries that it could act as a facilitator of the atomic ambitions of other nations and potentially even terrorists.

Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak "agreed that the test was a reckless violation of international law that compels action in response," the White House said in a statement after the leaders spoke by telephone. They also vowed to "seek and support a strong United Nations Security Council resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities."

Obama also spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, the White House said, with the leaders agreeing to step up coordination with South Korea, China and Russia. Obama reiterated the US commitment to defend both South Korea and Japan, US and South Korean officials said.

North Korea responded by accusing the US of hostility, and said its army and people were ready to defeat any American invasion.