France supports measures against North Korea

PARIS - France Monday joined the rising chorus of demand for North Korea to be punished for its sinking of a South Korea navy ship.

The French foreign ministry said it fully supported South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, who plans to ask the UN Security Council to deal with the incident.

“France stands behind its partners in the Security Council to make sure this aggression does not go unpunished,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry called the March 26 attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors a criminal attack.

Seoul charged North Korea with the sinking only after carrying out an extensive investigation. On Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Pyongyang’s actions the “most serious provocation” in the troubled Korean peninsula.

North Korea has warned of an “all-out war” if South Korea proceeds with measures against it.