U.S. seeks NE Asian co-op over DPRK 

Source: Xinhuanet

10-19-2006 09:36

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is traveling in northeast Asia, would seek broad cooperation in the region in order to contain the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The United States had no desire to see the escalation of a nuclear crisis in northeast Asia, Rice told reporters as she flew on the first leg of a week-long tour of Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.

"In fact, it is our goal to see a de-escalation of this, despite North Korean actions," Rice said.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Saturday to prevent Pyongyang from selling or buying certain banned weapons and technology after it announced on Oct. 9 that it had conducted a successful nuclear test.

It was reported that Washington would urge the northeast Asian countries to use radiation monitors to identify suspicious ships, trucks and aircraft and to consider both U.S. and Asian intelligence in figuring out which cargo to check.

An U.S. official, who asked not to be identified, said the U.S. government would be willing to provide assistance that would make every suspected DPRK shipment subject to scrutiny at seaports, airports and border crossings.

But Rice said "What we are looking for is not inspecting every ship. This is not some random inspection."

She said inspections would be "information-driven," based on tips and other intelligence about the DPRK intentions.

Rice stressed that the Bush administration was focused on the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," not destabilizing the Pyongyang government. She said the administration remained committed to reversing and ultimately dismantling the DPRK's nuclear programs.

Rice also said that she would reassure Japan and South Korea that they could rely on the U.S. nuclear deterrent instead of developing their own nuclear programs.

Editor:Wang Ping