A South Korean woman shouts a slogan while other protesters burn picture of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il

President Bush says threats by North Korea are designed to test the will of the five nations trying to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Mr. Bush's comments come after North Korea earlier Wednesday warned South Korea that it will take "corresponding" action if the South takes part in international sanctions against the North over its nuclear test earlier this month.

The president told reporters Wednesday at the White House, that North Korea has made threats before. Mr. Bush says the United States, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan all agree they need to work together to solve the issue peacefully.

South Korea has indicated it has formed a task force to study how to impose U.N. sanctions against North Korea.

Vladimir Putin smiles during nationally televised question-and-answer session in Moscow, Oct. 25, 2006

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is urging the international community to adopt a more constructive approach to resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, saying that pressuring the reclusive state is counterproductive.

Mr. Putin said Wednesday one of the reasons Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test October 9 was because some participants of the six-nation disarmament talks could not find the "right tone" in the negotiations.

On Tuesday, China said North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had told Beijing officials he is not planning to conduct another nuclear test, unless international pressure provokes Pyongyang to change its course.

North Korea says it will return to the six-nation talks only if Washington lifts sanctions, including a freeze on the North's funds held in a bank in Macau.

U.S. authorities say the sanctions are a separate issue from the talks. They say they froze the funds because North Korea produces and circulates counterfeit U.S. currency, and is engaged in money-laundering activities.