Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » News » Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

N Korea: US turns to China
Get news updates:What's this?
Advertisement
May 12, 2005 17:33 IST
The United States is depending heavily on China to rescue a faltering diplomatic effort to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons but has suggested no specific pressure tactics to Beijing [Images], senior US officials said Thursday.

Talks involving China, the United States, Russia [Images], Japan [Images] and South Korea have been sidelined for nearly a year while concerns mount within the administration that North Korea may be preparing for a nuclear weapons test.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were unable to verify published reports China has dismissed the idea of sanctions to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. If China has taken such a decision it has not advised the administration, said a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The United States has reached out to China because of its strong economic and political ties to the Pyongyang government, while in the meantime publicly offering North Korea one-on-one talks with US negotiators once six-party negotiations are resumed.

In their talks with the Chinese, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [Images], Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and other American diplomats have left it up to the Chinese to decide what tactics to use, the senior US official said.

 



Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback