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Rice N Korea tour heads to Seoul Rice N Korea tour heads to Seoul
(about 3 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has headed to South Korea as part of an Asian tour to bolster opposition to North Korea's nuclear testing. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in South Korea on the second leg of an Asian tour to rally opposition to North Korea's nuclear testing.
Earlier on Thursday she met Japan's PM in Tokyo and again warned North Korea not to carry out a second nuclear test. In an earlier meeting with Japan's prime minister, she again warned the North not to carry out a second test.
The trip follows a UN Security Council vote backing sanctions in response to North Korea's test. Her trip follows a UN Security Council vote backing sanctions in response to North Korea's 9 October test.
Correspondents say Ms Rice will face a more wary reception in the South which favours engagement with the North. Correspondents say Ms Rice will face a more wary reception in the South, which favours engagement with its neighbour.
As she continued her tour, a North Korean official gave the country's first indication it may be preparing a second nuclear test. A North Korean official gave the country's first indication it may be preparing a second nuclear test.
And on US television, President George W Bush warned North Korea it would face "grave consequences" if it tried to transfer nuclear weapons. The deputy head of North Korea's foreign ministry, Li Gun, speaking on ABC TV in the US, said a second test would be "natural" and that the US should not be surprised if one were carried out.
President George W Bush warned North Korea it would face "grave consequences" if it tried to transfer nuclear weapons.
Cargo inspectionsCargo inspections
Ms Rice first met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.Ms Rice first met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.
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
Amid concern in Washington that the crisis could encourage other Asian nations to develop their own nuclear weapons programmes, Ms Rice stressed that the US was ready to act on its defence commitments to Japan.Amid concern in Washington that the crisis could encourage other Asian nations to develop their own nuclear weapons programmes, Ms Rice stressed that the US was ready to act on its defence commitments to Japan.
Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tokyo was "absolutely not considering a need to be armed by nuclear weapons".Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tokyo was "absolutely not considering a need to be armed by nuclear weapons".
Japan's Kyodo news agency said the US and Japan had agreed to examine the role of the military in searching North Korean cargo ships.Japan's Kyodo news agency said the US and Japan had agreed to examine the role of the military in searching North Korean cargo ships.
Ms Rice said: "The United States has no desire to escalate this crisis, in fact we would like to see it de-escalate."
Ms Rice and Mr Aso later flew on to Seoul to rally support for the full implementation of sanctions in line with the UN resolution.Ms Rice and Mr Aso later flew on to Seoul to rally support for the full implementation of sanctions in line with the UN resolution.
But the BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says Ms Rice can expect a wary reception from the South, which is pushing for a less confrontational approach and still favours a policy of reconciliation and economic engagement.But the BBC's Charles Scanlon in Seoul says Ms Rice can expect a wary reception from the South, which is pushing for a less confrontational approach and still favours a policy of reconciliation and economic engagement.
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 where Discord over ship searchesNEW 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 Discord over ship searches
However, the South Korean Yonhap news agency said Seoul was preparing to bolster the inspection of cargo heading to the North and to block subsidies to a joint tourism project there.However, the South Korean Yonhap news agency said Seoul was preparing to bolster the inspection of cargo heading to the North and to block subsidies to a joint tourism project there.
A US diplomat said Ms Rice would again press the South on the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative which was set up in 2003 to inspect illicit cargoes carried on North Korean ships. A US diplomat said Ms Rice would again press the South on the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative which was set up in 2003 to inspect ships suspected of carrying materials that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.
The South has been reluctant to join for fear of sparking conflict with the North.The South has been reluctant to join for fear of sparking conflict with the North.
Ms Rice's tour also takes her to Russia and China, which is thought to have even greater concerns over some parts of the new UN sanctions. Ms Rice's tour also takes her China, which is thought to have even greater concerns over inspecting North Korean shipping in case it triggers a confrontation.
Test fearsTest fears
The tour comes amid concerns that the North might conduct another nuclear test.The tour comes amid concerns that the North might conduct another nuclear test.
We would stop the transfer, and we would deal with the ships... or the airplane that was... taking the material George W BushWe would stop the transfer, and we would deal with the ships... or the airplane that was... taking the material George W Bush
On ABC television in the US the deputy head of North Korea's foreign ministry, Li Gun, said a second test would be "natural" and that the US should not be surprised if one were carried out. A member of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee, Chung Hyung-keun, said the North could be preparing three or four more tests.
Ms Rice in Tokyo warned of "further measures" if the North carried out another test. Ms Rice in Tokyo warned of "further measures" if the North tested again.
In his television interview, President Bush said the US would use whatever means necessary to prevent the North transferring nuclear weapons to third parties such as Iran or al-Qaeda. In a television interview, President Bush said the US would use whatever means necessary to prevent the North transferring nuclear weapons to third parties such as Iran or al-Qaeda.
"We would stop the transfer, and we would deal with the ships... or the airplane that was... taking the material," Mr Bush told ABC News."We would stop the transfer, and we would deal with the ships... or the airplane that was... taking the material," Mr Bush told ABC News.