President Lee Myung-bak has reiterated his call for a strong, unified reaction to North Korea's recent nuclear test, while calling on the communist nation to halt any attempt to further escalate tension in the region.

The president's call came Thursday during a meeting with a U.S. delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
Lee also repeated his pledge that Seoul would provide epoch-making assistance for the communist state if it gives up its nuclear deterrent.

Steinberg said in response that Pyongyang is mistaken if it believes it can get anything from the United States through provocations, adding that the North does not seem to understand the change in China's stance regarding the issue.

China has, in the past, been a supporter of the communist regime in the North. But as one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China has voiced the need to penalize Pyongyang for its recent provocations.

Steinberg also said North Korea's provocative acts have only strengthened the South Korea-U.S. alliance.