SEOUL (AP)— South Korea Monday urged the UN Security Council to send a firm message to North Korea over the sinking of a warship, but declined comment on media reports that China was blocking such a move.

The North meanwhile repeated vows to strengthen its nuclear weaponry in a new way to counter what it called U.S. threats over the case.
“The international community should send a firm and clear message to North Korea,” Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Kim Young-Sun told a briefing.
Kim refused comment on reports that China objects to identifying its ally the North as the culprit, but admitted it was difficult to say when the council would reach a conclusion.
South Korea, citing the findings of a multinational investigation, has accused its neighbor of torpedoing the 1,200-tonne corvette with the loss of 46 sailors near the disputed Yellow Sea border on March 26.
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