South Korean Defence Minister Lee Sang Hee on Saturday urged the UN Security Council to take action against North Korea after Pyongyang's nuclear test this week but said it would work to resolve the crisis peacefully.

Speaking to a meeting on Asian security in Singapore, Lee called on the UN and the international community "to take proper measures against North Korea's wrongdoings so that it would give up its nuclear developments."

"Our government will work to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue peacefully through close consultation with members of the six-party talks and the international community," Lee added.

He said South Korea hoped that measures taken against North Korea would bring the country back to the six-nation talks, which are aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. The talks involve the United States, China, Russia, Japan, and the two Koreas.

"We need your help and support," Lee told defence ministers and security policymakers from 27 countries at the meeting.