The Foreign Minister said yesterday it viewed the sanctions as a necessary step toward securing long-term peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Sanctions were a legitimate response by the international community, given the "provocative act of an underground nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on October 9", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Thailand urged North Korea, as a UN member, to respect the Security Council resolution and fully cooperate with the international community - in particular by abandoning all of its nuclear programmes, the statement said.

North Korea should also abide by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Agreement, and return to the six-party talks without any precondition.

Thailand remained fully committed to cooperating with the international community to ensure swift and full compliance with all measures imposed by the UN.

Thailand also reiterated its call for a peaceful solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis through diplomatic negotiations, the statement said.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Foreign Ministry would host meetings with concerned ministries - including Commerce, Industry, Information and Technology and Natural Resources - to work out necessary measures in accordance with the UN resolution.