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| US 'cannot allow' nuclear N Korea | US 'cannot allow' nuclear N Korea |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The US will not accept a North Korea armed with nuclear weapons, a top US envoy has said, a day after Pyongyang announced plans for a nuclear test. | |
| North Korea must choose either to have a future or to have nuclear weapons "but it cannot have them both", top US negotiator Christopher Hill said. | North Korea must choose either to have a future or to have nuclear weapons "but it cannot have them both", top US negotiator Christopher Hill said. |
| He did not specify how the US would respond if a nuclear test took place. | He did not specify how the US would respond if a nuclear test took place. |
| The US wants allies to present a common front against the test plans, but talks at the UN have been inconclusive. | The US wants allies to present a common front against the test plans, but talks at the UN have been inconclusive. |
| "At this stage, there's division," said the US envoy to the UN, John Bolton. | "At this stage, there's division," said the US envoy to the UN, John Bolton. |
| I am not prepared at this point to say what we are going to do but I am prepared to say we are not going to wait for a nuclear North Korea Christopher HillUS Assistant Secretary of State Anxiety in Asia | I am not prepared at this point to say what we are going to do but I am prepared to say we are not going to wait for a nuclear North Korea Christopher HillUS Assistant Secretary of State Anxiety in Asia |
| However, state department spokesman Tom Casey said the US hoped to see "some action there in the near future". | However, state department spokesman Tom Casey said the US hoped to see "some action there in the near future". |
| Russia and South Korea have said that North Korea's plans to conduct a nuclear test are unacceptable. | Russia and South Korea have said that North Korea's plans to conduct a nuclear test are unacceptable. |
| Their foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Ban Ki-moon, agreed in a telephone conversation that a test would only aggravate the situation, Russia said. | Their foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Ban Ki-moon, agreed in a telephone conversation that a test would only aggravate the situation, Russia said. |
| The new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is to visit China and South Korea in the next few days. | The new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is to visit China and South Korea in the next few days. |
| Diplomatic drive | Diplomatic drive |
| Mr Hill, Washington's top envoy at stalled six-party talks with North Korea, said the US was rallying its allies in a diplomatic push against Pyongyang. | Mr Hill, Washington's top envoy at stalled six-party talks with North Korea, said the US was rallying its allies in a diplomatic push against Pyongyang. |
| "I am not prepared at this point to say what we are going to do but I am prepared to say we are not going to wait for a nuclear North Korea, we are not going to accept it," he said. | "I am not prepared at this point to say what we are going to do but I am prepared to say we are not going to wait for a nuclear North Korea, we are not going to accept it," he said. |
| The true extent of the North's nuclear programme is unknown | The true extent of the North's nuclear programme is unknown |
| He said North Korea had reached "a very important fork in the road - it can have a future or it can have these [nuclear] weapons but it cannot have them both". | He said North Korea had reached "a very important fork in the road - it can have a future or it can have these [nuclear] weapons but it cannot have them both". |
| Mr Hill said the message had been conveyed to Pyongyang's envoy at the UN but had yet to elicit a response. | Mr Hill said the message had been conveyed to Pyongyang's envoy at the UN but had yet to elicit a response. |
| Mr Hill, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have been in touch with their counterparts in Asia and Europe over the North Korea's planned nuclear test. | Mr Hill, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have been in touch with their counterparts in Asia and Europe over the North Korea's planned nuclear test. |
| They want to send "a strong and unified signal... that these kinds of threats are certainly not acceptable", a state department spokesman said. | They want to send "a strong and unified signal... that these kinds of threats are certainly not acceptable", a state department spokesman said. |
| Mr Hill has had nuclear talks with North Korea in the past while Mr Burns plays a key role in America's diplomatic efforts to combat Iran's nuclear programme. | Mr Hill has had nuclear talks with North Korea in the past while Mr Burns plays a key role in America's diplomatic efforts to combat Iran's nuclear programme. |
| Sanctions | Sanctions |
| China has appealed for calm saying it hopes North Korea will "exercise the necessary calm and restraint". | China has appealed for calm saying it hopes North Korea will "exercise the necessary calm and restraint". |
| It says the issue should be handled in a revival of six-nation talks. | It says the issue should be handled in a revival of six-nation talks. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY North Korea is keen to show it will not be pushed around by anyone Tim, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY North Korea is keen to show it will not be pushed around by anyone Tim, London Send us your comments |
| North Korea announced its plans for a nuclear bomb test on Tuesday, saying it would boost security in the face of US hostility. | North Korea announced its plans for a nuclear bomb test on Tuesday, saying it would boost security in the face of US hostility. |
| It is thought to have developed a handful of warheads but never before announced it would test one. | It 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. |