Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/12/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA / NOKOR (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-324583

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=BEIJING

HEADLINE: China Sees No Need to Pressure North Korea

INTRO: A day after North Korea announced it has taken steps that could help it build nuclear bombs, China is repeating it does not want to see sanctions used to pressure Pyongyang to return to multi-party negotiations. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing.

TEXT: Although China is North Korea's largest supplier of food and fuel, Beijing contends that its ability to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions is limited.

U.S. officials this week said they continue to urge Beijing to use its influence to get North Korea back to six-nation talks and end its nuclear-weapons program.

Responding to questions about Washington's calls for more action, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China will not pressure the North to end its boycott of talks.

/// KONG ACT IN CHINESE W/ VOICEOVER ///

"The Chinese government is not in favor of imposing pressure and we do not support resorting to sanctions or pressures to resolve international conflicts. It is true that the six-party talks have faced some difficulties. However, we do not think we can resolve relevant issues simply by resorting to pressure."

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The North in the past agreed to return to talks after China - which has hosted three rounds of talks - offered Pyongyang economic assistance. But some regional political analysts say Beijing is hesitant to push the North too much for fear of antagonizing its longtime ally, and to avoid actions that could destabilize its impoverished neighbor.

The negotiations - which also include Japan, Russia, and South Korea - have been stalled since North Korea refused to attend a fourth round last year, accusing the United States of taking a hostile attitude.

Pyongyang repeatedly asserted that it possesses nuclear weapons - words that some analysts have labeled as a ploy by North Korea to frustrate Washington as U.S. officials call for Pyongyang to return to talks.

South Korean officials expressed concern over the announcement, but were skeptical of the North's intentions. South Korean Vice Unification Minister Rhee Bong-jo told reporters in Seoul that Pyongyang's declaration was probably meant to be a negotiating tactic. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/LR/KPD/RAE/KBK