South Korea's point man on inter-Korean affairs said Tuesday the international community should be united in making North Korea "face consequences" by slapping stronger sanctions over its latest nuclear test.

"Through sanctions, the international community should clearly let North Korea know that it was wrong and it should not repeat such misbehavior," Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo said at the start of a meeting with researchers from the U.S. Brookings Institution.

The United Nations Security Council is working on a fresh resolution for drawing up stronger sanctions over North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.

Hong stressed an importance of seeking international cooperation in deterring the North from making another provocation.

"South Korea will make efforts to have one voice with the global community (in dealing with the North's nuke issue). In that sense, it is important to have close coordination with the U.S. and other countries," he added.

In respond, Richard Bush, director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, echoed such a view.

"I agree with you 100 percent that (the North's) misbehavior should have consequences," Bush said, adding that forming a wider coalition of countries is important as it sends a "strong" message against the North. (Yonhap)

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