South Korea's Defence Ministry says now is not the right time to resume dialogue with the DPRK. A ministry spokesman said the South Korean military and government believe they should focus on punishing the DPRK for its wrong actions. Sources say South Korea has sent a deputy representative for the six-party talks to the US to discuss post-sanction measures.

Meanwhile China's special representative for Korean affairs, Wu Dawei, has held talks with his Japanese counterpart Kimihiro Ishikane in Tokyo.