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US, China Discuss North Korean Nuclear Standoff
VOA News
16 Jul 2003, 11:00 UTC

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing have held talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. China's official Xinhua news agency said that the two agreed, in a phone conversation Wednesday morning, to keep in contact and exert efforts to further the "Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relationship." Xinhua gave no further details.

On Tuesday, the White House said it was seriously concerned over Pyongyang's claim to have reprocessed nuclear fuel rods to make atomic weapons.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Tuesday that some of the claims Pyongyang has made in the past have been proven false, but stressed the most recent claims must be investigated. He said reprocessing used nuclear fuel is a serious concern.

Mr. McClellan said Washington is not able to confirm the accuracy of North Korea's disclosure. But he said the Bush administration will not submit to blackmail in its efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Also on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said North Korea's nuclear program is a serious problem not only for the United States, but for the entire world.

He called North Korea a country that has sent missile technology to what he termed "a lot of bad places." He also said it was a country that might sell nuclear technology. Mr. Di Rita stressed repeatedly to Pentagon reporters that the Bush administration is aggressively pursuing a diplomatic course to resolve the nuclear crisis.

The Bush administration says it wants multilateral talks to resolve the crisis, but North Korea has insisted on direct talks with Washington. Mr. McClellan said Washington will work closely with South Korea, Japan, China and other countries in the region to resolve the standoff.

Meanwhile, China is increasing its efforts to cool tensions over the North Korean situation. President Hu Jintao sent a letter this week to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, apparently proposing multilateral talks that also would include bilateral discussions between Pyongyang and Washington. Neither side has confirmed the proposal, but diplomats tell reporters it is not likely the United States will go along with it.