The three East Asian nations of Korea, China and Japan concurred on Saturday (Apr. 11) to send a strong message against North Korea''s recent launch of a long-range rocket.
President Lee, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who are visiting the Thai city of Pattaya, made such an agreement at a three-way summit, said Kim Eun-hye, vice spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae.

The date of the trilateral summit was advanced from Sunday due to anti-government protests in Pattaya. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in the city following the protests and the pre-scheduled ASEAN+3 summit (Apr. 11) and East Asia Summit (Apr. 12) were all canceled.

At the trilateral summit, the three leaders agreed to send a strong message to North Korea as soon as possible and to find ways to deal with the communist state''s recent provocation through the United Nations Security Council.

North Korea launched on Apr. 5 a long-range rocket from the launch pad in Musudan-ri, North Hamgyeong Province, despite continuous warning from the international community.