U.N. to meet as world leaders condemn North Korea test

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World leaders condemned North Korea for carrying out nuclear and missile tests and U.S. President Barack Obama said Pyongyang's actions were a reckless challenge warranting action from the international community.

As nations prepared for emergency U.N. Security Council talks on Monday (9 p.m. British time), European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana branded the test a "flagrant violation" of a Council resolution which required "a firm response."

China, Russia, France and Britain -- which with the United States are the permanent Council members -- expressed alarm at the hermit state's test that Moscow said was as powerful as the U.S. atom bomb dropped on Nagasaki in World War Two.

South Korea called an emergency cabinet meeting.

"By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community," Obama said. "The danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants action by the international community."

The uniform condemnation from around the globe underscored the isolation of the secretive state.

Nations for years have tried a mix of huge aid pledges and tough economic sanctions to persuade impoverished North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme.

Pyongyang, however, is so isolated there are few punishment options open and neither Obama nor Solana made specific recommendations. France spoke of strengthening sanctions.