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| China calls for calm over N Korea | China calls for calm over N Korea |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| China has appealed for calm following North Korea's announcement that it planned to test a nuclear bomb. | China has appealed for calm following North Korea's announcement that it planned to test a nuclear bomb. |
| "We hope that North Korea will exercise necessary calm and restraint," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said, urging other states not to escalate tensions. | "We hope that North Korea will exercise necessary calm and restraint," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said, urging other states not to escalate tensions. |
| North Korea announced the test on state TV, saying it would boost security in the face of US hostility. | North Korea announced the test on state TV, saying it would boost security in the face of US hostility. |
| The US said such an action would be "provocative", while Japan said it would be "unacceptable". | The US said such an action would be "provocative", while Japan said it would be "unacceptable". |
| The US has already indicated it would raise the issue with the UN Security Council, but Beijing says the issue should be handled by ongoing six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. | The US has already indicated it would raise the issue with the UN Security Council, but Beijing says the issue should be handled by ongoing six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. |
| It would be a threat to peace that is absolutely unforgivable Taro AsoJapanese Foreign Minister class="">Public voices fears href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5405440.stm" class="">Press weighs test threat These talks have been stalled for almost a year, with Pyongyang refusing to return to the table unless the US first lifts financial sanctions. | |
| Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months, after the North conducted internationally condemned missile tests, little progress has been made. | Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent months, after the North conducted internationally condemned missile tests, little progress has been made. |
| China, the nearest the North has to an ally, has often advocated quiet diplomacy in efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. | China, the nearest the North has to an ally, has often advocated quiet diplomacy in efforts to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. |
| But other countries involved in the six-nation talks - notably the US and Japan - have frequently taken a harder line. | But other countries involved in the six-nation talks - notably the US and Japan - have frequently taken a harder line. |
| International outcry | International outcry |
| North Korea said that its nuclear test would prove its claim, made publicly last year, that it had nuclear weapons. | North Korea said that its nuclear test would prove its claim, made publicly last year, that it had nuclear weapons. |
| KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test N Korean statement on test N Korea nuclear timeline | KOREAN NUCLEAR CRISIS Sept 2005:At first hailed as a breakthrough, North Korea agrees to give up nuclear activitiesNext day, N Korea says it will not scrap its activities unless it gets a civilian nuclear reactorUS imposes financial sanctions on N Korea businessesJuly 2006: N Korea test-fires seven missilesUN Security Council votes to impose sanctions over the testsOct 2006: N Korea threatens nuclear test N Korean statement on test N Korea nuclear timeline |
| Pyongyang did not give a date for its planned nuclear test, but North Korean diplomat Pak Myong-guk told the BBC that the country had been forced to act because of Washington's stance. | Pyongyang did not give a date for its planned nuclear test, but North Korean diplomat Pak Myong-guk told the BBC that the country had been forced to act because of Washington's stance. |
| "These kinds of threats of nuclear war and sanctions and pressure by the United States compel us to conduct a nuclear test," he said. | "These kinds of threats of nuclear war and sanctions and pressure by the United States compel us to conduct a nuclear test," he said. |
| But there was little sympathy among the international community for Pyongyang's reasons. | But there was little sympathy among the international community for Pyongyang's reasons. |
| Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Wednesday that Tokyo "simply could not accept if North Korea were to conduct a nuclear test". | Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Wednesday that Tokyo "simply could not accept if North Korea were to conduct a nuclear test". |
| "It would be a very provocative act by the North Koreans," added US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice . | "It would be a very provocative act by the North Koreans," added US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice . |
| South Korea warned that it might abandon its long policy of pursuing engagement with the North if the tests went ahead. | South Korea warned that it might abandon its long policy of pursuing engagement with the North if the tests went ahead. |
| Russia and various other European nations have also expressed concern, and a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a test would only provoke universal condemnation and do nothing towards strengthening North Korea's security. | Russia and various other European nations have also expressed concern, and a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a test would only provoke universal condemnation and do nothing towards strengthening North Korea's security. |
| But China said it would be better to revive the six-nation talks, which stalled almost a year ago. | But China said it would be better to revive the six-nation talks, which stalled almost a year ago. |
| "If the six-party talks cannot do anything about it, I don't think the Council is in a position to do it," China's envoy to the UN, Wang Guangya, told reporters. | "If the six-party talks cannot do anything about it, I don't think the Council is in a position to do it," China's envoy to the UN, Wang Guangya, told reporters. |
| Nuclear capabilities | Nuclear capabilities |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It is of concern to the whole world that North Korea should want to test nuclear weapons Steve, Chippenham Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY It is of concern to the whole world that North Korea should want to test nuclear weapons Steve, Chippenham Send us your comments |
| North Korea is thought to have developed a handful of warheads but never before announced it would test one. | North Korea is thought to have developed a handful of warheads but never before announced it would test one. |
| US and South Korean reports suggest the North has at least one underground test site. | US and South Korean reports suggest the North has at least one underground test site. |
| The North appears increasingly angry at sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on North Korean businesses accused of arms sales and illegal activities. | The North appears increasingly angry at sanctions imposed by the US and other countries on North Korean businesses accused of arms sales and illegal activities. |
| In 2002, it restarted its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and forced two UN nuclear monitors to leave the country. It is unclear how far work has progressed at the plant since then. | In 2002, it restarted its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and forced two UN nuclear monitors to leave the country. It is unclear how far work has progressed at the plant since then. |