SEOUL - Violence by Chinese students at the weekend Olympic torch relay injured South Korea's national pride and "legal and diplomatic measures are necessary," Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo said Tuesday.

"Legal and diplomatic measures are necessary as the incident hurt national pride considerably," Yonhap news agency quoted Han as telling a Cabinet meeting. He did not elaborate.

Public anger is growing over Sunday's violence, in which Chinese students attacked Koreans staging protests against Beijing's rights record.

"It is very regrettable that foreigners staged illegal violent protests at a time when self-restraint against violent protests is taking root under a new government," Justice Minister Kim Kyung-Han root told the Cabinet.

"The justice ministry will sternly deal with those responsible, regardless of their nationality."

The government Monday had expressed "strong regret" to China's ambassador at the behaviour of the students. - AFP/ir