Beijing – Amid uncertainty over North Korea’s response to sanctions over its nuclear program, China’s foreign minister today assured Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that his country would meet its obligations as a member of the U.N. Security Council.
Rice, who earlier stated that she would not try to dictate how U.S. allies enforce sanctions on North Korea, agreed that a path to negotiations should remain open and that six-party talks over nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula should resume.
Rice and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing discussed the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran as well as human rights in China during an hour-long meeting. In brief statements to reporters after the session, the leaders agreed that diplomatic solutions should be sought with the North. They took no questions.
“China has an excellent track record in playing a constructive role in the international community and in honoring all of our commitments,” Li said. “We hope all relevant parties will maintain coolheadedness, adopt a responsible approach and adhere to peaceful dialogue as the main approach.” Rice reiterated the U.S. position that North Korea’s nuclear test poses a threat to international peace and security.
In Seoul on Thursday, Rice said the U.S. and its allies must live up to their agreement to bar North Korea from exporting nuclear technology or receiving overseas help for its nuclear program.
South Korea and China are the communist North’s closest neighbors and trading partners, accounting for two-thirds of its foreign commerce. Both nations pledged to carry out U.N. restrictions approved after North Korea’s Oct. 9 test explosion of a small nuclear device, but they have hedged on details.
In China, officials with four commercial banks said they have stopped moving funds in and out of North Korea, The Wall Street Journal Asia reported on its website Thursday, and one of the officials cited a ban ordered by Chinese regulators.
Rice is on a crisis mission to Asia to reinforce the sanctions and reassure jittery allies of U.S. support. But she played down differences over how to confront Pyong yang and left U.S. expectations vague.
“I did not come to South Korea. nor will I go anyplace else to try to dictate to governments what they ought to do” to enforce the U.N. mandate, Rice said at a news conference Thursday with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon.
