SEOUL -- President-elect Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday reinforced South Korea's rejection of U.S. moves to punish North Korea with economic sanctions over its nuclear ambitions, saying any U.S. policy toward the North must take into account Seoul's stance.

"It ought to be borne in mind that a failed U.S. policy toward the North would be a matter of life and death for South Koreans while it would not be to U.S. citizens," Roh told journalists.

"Therefore, any U.S. actions (toward the North) must give priority to South Korea's stance," Roh told AFP.

He said South Korean politicians "must stand firm on this principle" and the Korean people must support it. He expressed regret at "politically-motivated allegations by those who criticize Seoul "for not following blindly U.S. lead."

Washington has reportedly prepared a policy of "tailored containment" against North Korea, putting financial and political pressure on Pyongyang as the next step in efforts to force the to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Roh echoed outgoing president Kim Dae-jung's remarks Monday when he said U.S. policy of putting pressure on North Korea and isolation was doomed to failure.

Kim, who is to step down in February, said his engagement policy was the only "effective" way to avert a showdown over the country's nuclear weapons ambitions.

"I am skeptical about the effectiveness of the U.S. policy of tailored containment in restraining the North or forcing it to surrender," Roh said.

"It would not constitute genuine policy coordination should the United States put it out unilaterally and the South Korean government accept it," Roh said.

Kim's and Roh's comments came as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly was to visit South Korea and Japan next week to consult with the two allies on the nuclear issue.

Some analysts in Seoul said Kelly may press South Korea and Japan to accept its hardline stance of tailored containment on North Korea. China and Russia, as key allies of Pyongyang, would also be pressed to support the policy but would be reluctant to do so, they said.

Russia has been highly critical of the United States in its dealings with North Korea, saying Washington was responsible, not Pyongyang, for the current crisis by forcing the collapse of the 1994 agreed framework. It also disputes the U.S. assertion that Pyongyang can produce nuclear weapons.

Japan has been critical of North Korea's nuclear plans, which has derailed efforts by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to establish diplomatic relations with Japan. But Tokyo, along with Seoul, has emphasized dialogue, rather than pressure, in dealings with the North Korea regime.