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US urges China action on N Korea US, Japan hold talks on N Korea
(about 7 hours later)
The US is urging China to fully implement United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea following its nuclear test last week. The chief US envoy on North Korea is due to arrive in Tokyo, for talks on how to move forward after Pyongyang's reported nuclear test last week.
US envoy John Bolton said that China had an obligation to comply with Resolution 1718, passed unanimously by the Security Council on Saturday. Christopher Hill will focus on how the US and Japan can co-operate to enforce UN sanctions against Pyongyang.
The sanctions include a raft of measures targeting North Korea's weapons and missile programmes. On Saturday the UN Security Council approved a resolution that imposed both weapons and financial sanctions.
But there are still reservations on the Chinese side over cargo inspections. But despite the unanimous vote, disagreements are already emerging between the members of the council.
The resolution - which also targets luxury goods and imposes a travel ban on some North Korean officials - was reached after lengthy negotiations. Beijing has indicated that it still has reservations about carrying out the extensive cargo inspections that Washington says are called for in the resolution.
"China voted in favour of the resolution... But this means China itself now has an obligation to make sure that it complies with the resolution. John Bolton But the US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, said China had an obligation to comply with the resolution.
It allows the inspection of cargo vessels going in and out of North Korea for banned materials, something that worries China. Japanese support
Its UN envoy, Wang Guangya, said immediately after the vote that China urged countries to "refrain from taking any provocative steps that may intensify the tension". Mr Hill is expected to spend two days in Tokyo, focusing on US-Japan co-operation over the North Korean crisis.
Both Russia and China are concerned that inspections could spark naval confrontations with North Korean boats. Japan is looking at whether it can provide logistical support for US vessels if they start trying to inspect cargo ships going to or from North Korea.
'Heavy responsibility'
Mr Bolton told American television that China had voted for the sanctions and had an obligation to enforce them.
The Security Council... condemns the nuclear test proclaimed by the DPRK on 9 October 2006 in flagrant disregard of its relevant resolutions UNSC Resolution 1718 Resolution in full (62K) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader Download the reader hereThe Security Council... condemns the nuclear test proclaimed by the DPRK on 9 October 2006 in flagrant disregard of its relevant resolutions UNSC Resolution 1718 Resolution in full (62K) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader Download the reader here
"China's got heavy responsibility here," he said. North Korea's test "had to be humiliating to China... and I think we are still seeing that play out," he said. The restrictions imposed by Japan's pacifist constitution may require the government to pass new laws to allow that to happen.
He said that most of the planned cargo inspections would take place at ports and land crossings and said that the UN was not proposing a sea blockade of North Korea. In a further diplomatic drive, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to arrive in Japan on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, said she was certain China would "live up to its responsibilities" under the resolution. She reportedly intends to reassure the country that Washington will provide adequate protection in the event that North Korea obtains a viable nuclear weapon - a message she will later take to South Korea.
"I understand that people are concerned about how it might work so it doesn't enhance tensions in the region, and we're perfectly willing to have those conversations," she said. 'Heavy responsibility'
Ms Rice is due to travel to the region later in the week for talks with North Korea's neighbours. The UN resolution against North Korea was agreed on Saturday after lengthy negotiations.
It imposes tough weapons restrictions, targets luxury goods and imposes a travel ban on some North Korean officials.
It also allows the inspection of cargo vessels going in and out of North Korea for banned materials, although the resolution was weakened slightly at China and Russia's insistence, to make this provision less mandatory.
Beijing's UN envoy, Wang Guangya, said immediately after the vote that China urged countries to "refrain from taking any provocative steps that may intensify the tension".
Mr Bolton said China had a "heavy responsibility"Both Russia and China are concerned that inspections could spark naval confrontations with North Korean boats.
But Mr Bolton told American television that China had voted for the sanctions and therefore "China itself now has an obligation to make sure that it complies."
"China's got heavy responsibility here," he said.
North Korea has reacted angrily to the resolution. Its UN envoy, Pak Gil-yon, condemned the move before storming out of the meeting in New York.North Korea has reacted angrily to the resolution. Its UN envoy, Pak Gil-yon, condemned the move before storming out of the meeting in New York.
North Korea announced on 9 October that it had carried out an underground nuclear test in Gilju in Hamgyong province. The isolated communist state announced on 9 October that it had carried out an underground nuclear test in Gilju in Hamgyong province.
US officials said on Saturday that preliminary results of scientific tests appeared to confirm that that claim was true, but they stressed that more tests were needed to reach a conclusion.US officials said on Saturday that preliminary results of scientific tests appeared to confirm that that claim was true, but they stressed that more tests were needed to reach a conclusion.