The 16-nation Pacific Forum summit here also urged North Korea to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to reverse its announced withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Summit leaders "stressed the need for (North Korea) to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner".

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, attending the forum which ended Saturday, told reporters that North Korea "remains an enormous threat to the security and stability" of the region.

Howard said proposed six-party talks involving the two Koreas, China, Russia, Japan and the United States were a "huge step forward".

"North Korea is a very threatening country," he said.

"If it goes ahead to acquire a nuclear capacity then it is very important that all the diplomatic efforts of countries in the region and elsewhere be brought to bear to stop that happening," Howard added.

"And China has played a very helpful constructive role and I would continue to urge upon the Chinese leadership that it keep going down that path, working closely with the Americans, working closely with the Japanese and South Korea."

"China has played a very constructive role and it is important from Australia's point of view that I talk directly to the Chinese leadership on this issue," he added.

Howard flies to Beijing on Monday.

WAR.WIRE