South Korea seeks united front

SEOUL, S. Korea - South Korea’s president sought Wednesday to galvanize support from world leaders to pursue U.N. Security Council punishment for North Korea if it proceeds with a rocket launch that is suspected to be a cover for a missile test.

In one-on-one meetings in London on the eve of the G-20 summit, President Lee Myung-bak stressed the need for a “united response” among world leaders after Pyongyang carries out what it has said will be a satellite launch some time from Saturday to the following Wednesday.

The United States, South Korea and Japan believe the reclusive country is really testing its long-range missile technology, and they warn Pyongyang would face sanctions under a U.N. Security Council resolution that bans the country from any ballistic activity.

North Korea has refused to back down and issued warnings of its own, telling the United States it will shoot down any spy planes that intrude into its territory and threatening Japan that any effort to intervene in the launch would be considered an act of war.