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Rice doubts N Korea test pledge Rice: 'N Korea escalating crisis'
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she doubts claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il pledged not to carry out a second nuclear test. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has accused North Korea of wanting to escalate international tensions over its nuclear weapons programme.
There have been media reports that Mr Kim made the promise to Chinese envoy Tang Jiaxuan when he visited Pyongyang. Mr Rice said she doubts claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il agreed not to carry out a second nuclear test or that he regretted the first.
But Ms Rice, in Beijing on Friday for talks on the crisis sparked by North Korea's first nuclear test, said the Chinese mentioned no such breakthrough. Her comments follow media reports that Mr Kim made the pledge to Chinese envoy Tang Jiaxuan when he visited Pyongyang.
She is now in Moscow for talks also expected to focus on North Korea. She is in Moscow for talks expected to focus on the North Korea crisis.
Ms Rice is on a regional tour, meeting leaders in Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.
International threat?International threat?
The secretary of state was in Beijing on Friday, but she said the Chinese made no mention of Mr Kim agreeing to halt nuclear tests, despite giving her a "thorough" briefing on Mr Tang's visit to Pyongyang.
"I don't know whether or not Kim Jong-il said any such thing," Ms Rice told journalists accompanying her on a flight from Beijing to Moscow."I don't know whether or not Kim Jong-il said any such thing," Ms Rice told journalists accompanying her on a flight from Beijing to Moscow.
"Tang did not tell me that Kim Jong-il either apologised for the test or said that he would not ever test again," Ms Rice added."Tang did not tell me that Kim Jong-il either apologised for the test or said that he would not ever test again," Ms Rice added.
Mr Tang, a former Chinese foreign minister, was sent to North Korea on Thursday to deliver a personal message from President Hu Jintao.
Though it is not confirmed, we have obtained information that... the country won't conduct a second nuclear test Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso Q&A: Nuclear crisis N Korea's mercurial leaderThough it is not confirmed, we have obtained information that... the country won't conduct a second nuclear test Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso Q&A: Nuclear crisis N Korea's mercurial leader
"The North Koreans, I think, would like to see an escalation of the tension."
Mr Tang, a former Chinese foreign minister, was sent to North Korea on Thursday to deliver a personal message from President Hu Jintao.
Mr Tang did not set out what took place during his meeting with Mr Kim, but said afterwards that the visit had "not been in vain".Mr Tang did not set out what took place during his meeting with Mr Kim, but said afterwards that the visit had "not been in vain".
Ms Rice is seeking to bolster international support for enforcing UN sanctions imposed after the communist state's 9 October nuclear test.Ms Rice is seeking to bolster international support for enforcing UN sanctions imposed after the communist state's 9 October nuclear test.
The Russians condemned the test when it happened and the Kremlin has made it clear that it does not welcome a nuclear armed North Korea, but the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says there is little sense in the Russian capital that the world faces a clear and immediate threat.The Russians condemned the test when it happened and the Kremlin has made it clear that it does not welcome a nuclear armed North Korea, but the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says there is little sense in the Russian capital that the world faces a clear and immediate threat.
The Russian defence minister, Sergei Ivanov, has said that the sanctions against Pyongyang should be lifted if it returns to the negotiating table.The Russian defence minister, Sergei Ivanov, has said that the sanctions against Pyongyang should be lifted if it returns to the negotiating table.
Sanctions backingSanctions backing
Ms Rice may also raise the issue of Iran and seek Russian support for sanctions over its suspected nuclear weapons programme at her meetings with Mr Ivanov, President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, analysts say.Ms Rice may also raise the issue of Iran and seek Russian support for sanctions over its suspected nuclear weapons programme at her meetings with Mr Ivanov, President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, analysts say.
Russia's troubled ties with Georgia and the killing of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya could also be on the agenda.Russia's troubled ties with Georgia and the killing of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya could also be on the agenda.
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
Ms Rice arrives from three days of intensive diplomacy in East Asia over enforcing a Security Council resolution agreed last Saturday in response to North Korea's underground nuclear test.Ms Rice arrives from three days of intensive diplomacy in East Asia over enforcing a Security Council resolution agreed last Saturday in response to North Korea's underground nuclear test.
Moscow is the fourth leg of Ms Rice's four-nation tour. She has already held talks in Japan, South Korea and China.
The resolution includes sanctions targeting North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes, and allows the inspection of cargo going in and out of the country - something some countries fear will raise tensions further.The resolution includes sanctions targeting North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes, and allows the inspection of cargo going in and out of the country - something some countries fear will raise tensions further.
Ms Rice has come to Russia to see how much understanding it has for the US position, says our correspondent in Moscow.Ms Rice has come to Russia to see how much understanding it has for the US position, says our correspondent in Moscow.
Like China, Moscow is wary of putting too much pressure on Pyongyang, our correspondent says.Like China, Moscow is wary of putting too much pressure on Pyongyang, our correspondent says.
On Friday, Ms Rice said she was convinced China was committed to enforcing sanctions.On Friday, Ms Rice said she was convinced China was committed to enforcing sanctions.
"I think that you will see (Chinese) co-operation on cargo, particularly if there is suspicious cargo," she said."I think that you will see (Chinese) co-operation on cargo, particularly if there is suspicious cargo," she said.