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Rice launches Korea crisis tour Rice launches Korea crisis tour
(about 2 hours later)
Japan and the US have pledged to work together to implement UN sanctions on North Korea, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said.Japan and the US have pledged to work together to implement UN sanctions on North Korea, the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said.
She was speaking in Tokyo on the first leg of an Asian tour to rally support for enforcing the sanctions.She was speaking in Tokyo on the first leg of an Asian tour to rally support for enforcing the sanctions.
Ms Rice also said she had reaffirmed the US's commitment to defend Japan if necessary in the light of North Korea's nuclear weapons test. Ms Rice also reaffirmed the US's commitment to defend Japan if necessary in the light of North Korea's nuclear weapons test last week.
Concerns remain that the North might conduct another nuclear test. Pyongyang's test has raised concerns over an arms race in the region.
Ms Rice had earlier said Washington had no desire to see the crisis escalate but was ready to protect its allies in the face of a North Korean threat. Ms Rice's hastily arranged trip to Japan, South Korea, China and Russia is aimed at rallying support to implement sanctions fully in line with the UN resolution passed last week.
Renewed activity has been reported at last week's test site, and both South Korea and Japan say they have intelligence of possible preparation for a second test.
The North itself is showing no signs of backing down in the face of international pressure.
On Tuesday night it staged a huge sound and light show to mark the 80th anniversary of the party which was precursor to the current rulers, the Communist Workers Party.
Security alliances
Ms Rice's trip is aimed at rallying support to implement sanctions fully in line with the UN resolution passed last week.
"It is extremely important to recognise that this is a set of obligations under 1718 that I think all states are determined to carry out, " Ms Rice said on her flight to Tokyo.
She is also to visit South Korea, China and Russia.
N KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Q&A: Nuclear crisis N Korea's mercurial leaderN KOREA NUCLEAR PROGRAMME Believed to have 'handful' of nuclear weaponsBut not thought to have any small enough to put in a missileCould try dropping from plane, though world watching closely Q&A: Nuclear crisis N Korea's mercurial leader
"The way to deal with the security threat (North Korea) poses is to draw on the very strong alliances that we have with South Korea and Japan on which they can fully rely for their security from this specific threat," she said. South Korea, and to a greater extent China, are still thought to have concerns over some parts of the new UN sanctions.
Japan and the US are eager to implement the tough new UN sanctions on North Korea that were agreed by the Security Council - including plans to stop and search North Korean vessels suspected of carrying cargo that breaches the sanctions. Ms Rice said she and the Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso had pledged " to work together and with other states for the swift implementation and the effective implementation of all of the measures that are contemplated under resolution 1718."
Japan is constricted by the limitations of its pacifist constitution but it hopes to provide American naval forces with logistical support. She told a joint news conference that the US had no desire to escalate the crisis but stressed that the US was ready to act on its defence commitments to Japan.
The US ambassador to South Korea, Alexander Vershbow, says Ms Rice will ask Seoul to expand its role in inspecting ships going to and from the North, to check for weapons of mass destruction. "I want to make sure that everybody understands that the US will fully act on our defence obligations under the mutual defence treaty, " Ms Rice said.
Her comments come amid concern in Washington that the crisis on the Korean peninsula could encourage other Asian nations to develop their own nuclear weapons programmes.
We want peace but do not fear war N Korea's foreign ministry Full text of statement Send us your commentsWe want peace but do not fear war N Korea's foreign ministry Full text of statement Send us your comments
Mr Aso, who had earlier called for a debate on whether Japan should obtain nuclear weapons for itself, was careful to reiterate the government's position that Tokyo has no plans to possess, develop or allow nuclear bombs on its soil
"We do not need to acquire nuclear arms with an assurance by US Secretary of State Rice that the bilateral alliance would work without fault," he said.
Ms Rice and Mr Aso will travel together to South Korea on Thursday.
The US ambassador to South Korea, Alexander Vershbow, says Ms Rice will ask Seoul to expand its role in inspecting ships going to and from the North, to check for weapons of mass destruction.
South Korea has been reluctant to do this for fear it could spark a sea clash with the North.South Korea has been reluctant to do this for fear it could spark a sea clash with the North.
South Korea, and to a greater extent China, are still thought to have concerns over the implementation of some parts of the new UN sanctions. New test fears
One of Ms Rice's biggest challenges on this trip will be to get firm assurances that they will participate fully, analysts say. Concerns remain that the North might conduct another nuclear test.
Another reason for the trip is Washington's concern that the crisis on the Korean peninsula could encourage other Asian nations to develop their own nuclear weapons programmes. Renewed activity has been reported at last week's test site, and both South Korea and Japan say they have intelligence of possible preparation for a second test.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso has said there should be a discussion in Japan about whether the country should build its own nuclear arsenal, although he has stressed the government had no plans to possess or develop nuclear weapons.
Satellite data
Concerns are growing over a possible second nuclear test in North Korea.
NEW UN SANCTIONS Bans sale to, or export from, N Korea of military hardwareBans sale or export of nuclear and missile related itemsBans sale of luxury goodsFreezes finances and bans travel of anyone involved in nuclear, missile programmesAllows inspection of cargo to and from N KoreaStresses new resolution needed for further action Who stands whereNEW UN SANCTIONS Bans sale to, or export from, N Korea of military hardwareBans sale or export of nuclear and missile related itemsBans sale of luxury goodsFreezes finances and bans travel of anyone involved in nuclear, missile programmesAllows inspection of cargo to and from N KoreaStresses new resolution needed for further action Who stands where
The fears stem partly from new satellite data showing increased activity around at least two potential test sites.
In the past, North Korea is thought to have staged activity at nuclear and missile sites purely to attract attention and step up diplomatic pressure, the BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says.In the past, North Korea is thought to have staged activity at nuclear and missile sites purely to attract attention and step up diplomatic pressure, the BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says.
But analysts in Seoul say Pyongyang will need to conduct further tests in order to develop a credible nuclear deterrent, he adds.But analysts in Seoul say Pyongyang will need to conduct further tests in order to develop a credible nuclear deterrent, he adds.
China - the closest country North Korea has to an ally - has appealed to Pyongyang not to escalate tensions still further, urging it to resolve the issue "through dialogue and consultation".China - the closest country North Korea has to an ally - has appealed to Pyongyang not to escalate tensions still further, urging it to resolve the issue "through dialogue and consultation".
But on Tuesday the North Korean state media dubbed the new UN sanctions against it a "declaration of war", and warned that Pyongyang would deliver "merciless blows without hesitation to whoever tries to breach our sovereignty". But the North is showing no signs of backing down in the face of international pressure.
On Tuesday, state media dubbed the new UN sanctions against it a "declaration of war"
The authorities also staged a huge sound and light show to mark the 80th anniversary of the party which was precursor to the current rulers, the Communist Workers Party.
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