Text Fwd: Clinton urges China to vigorously implement sanctions on N. Korea

Yonhap News
Clinton urges China to vigorously implement sanctions on N. Korea
2011/01/15 02:04 KST

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on China Friday to faithfully implement sanctions on North Korea, imposed by U.N. resolutions, for the North's nuclear and missile tests in the past years.

In a speech at the State Department ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit here early next week, Clinton said, "Until North Korea demonstrates in concrete ways its intention to keep its commitments, China, along with the international community, must vigorously enforce the sanctions adopted by the Security Council last year."

North Korea will be among major topics when U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Hu for a summit meeting and a state dinner Wednesday, U.S. officials have said, in what is being called the most crucial Sino-U.S. summit in decades due to China's emergence as an economic and military power that will challenge U.S. supremacy.

Other issues high on the agenda include the revaluation of China's yuan currency, human rights, Iran's nuclear ambitions and improving bilateral ties.

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Seoul and Washington insist that Pyongyang apologize for the provocations before any resumption of bilateral or multilateral talks.

"We are building momentum in support of North-South dialogue that respects the legitimate concerns of our South Korean ally and that can set the stage for meaningful talks on implementing North Korea's 2005 commitment to irreversibly end its nuclear program," Clinton said.
China, the North's staunchest ally, has called for an early, unconditional resumption of the six-party talks.

Clinton also expressed concerns over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities.

"North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs are becoming a direct threat to the United States itself," she said. "So this is not just about peace and stability in Northeast Asia, nor standing with our allies; this is becoming, unfortunately, more of a national security challenge to our own shores."

She was echoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who said in Beijing Tuesday that North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons will pose a threat to the U.S. within five years. Gates also urged North Korea to impose a moratorium on nuclear and missile testing to help revive the six-party nuclear talks.

The chief U.S. defense official met with South Korean officials in Seoul earlier Friday in the third and last leg of his three-nation tour of Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul.

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