Seoul  - The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan, Yu Myung Hwan and Hirofumi Nakasone, Wednesday urged communist North Korea to stop its belligerent posturing to defuse international tensions.

The latest in Pyongyang's series of sharply worded threats had created new tension and was not helpful, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement after a meeting between Yu and Nakasone in Seoul.

The top diplomates of the two countries urged Pyongyang to "act in a way to contribute to stability in the region." At the same time, both stressed their commitment to continue international talks over ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula increased over the past weeks as Stalinist North Korea repeatedly threatened the Seoul government with annihilation and announced it would scrap all accords on reconciliation with its southern neighbour.

Pyongyang has been accusing Seoul of pursuing a confrontational policy since conservative President Lee Myung Bak, who took office in early 2008, abandoned the so-called Sunshine Police of his liberal predecessors and pursued a tougher course against North Korea.

Yu and Nakasone also agreed on intensifying cooperation between their countries to battle the global downturn and continue their aid to Afghanistan with joint education projects.

The Seoul meeting was a continuation of talks between Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso last month, when the two leaders vowed to improve bilateral relations. (dpa)