DPRK issue high on agenda 

Source: CCTV.com

10-20-2006 17:06

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has been talking over the latest developments in the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis with China's Foreign Minister.

In their closed door meeting Friday morning, the two sides exchanged views on a variety of issues concerning Sino-US relations. But topping their agenda was the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Li Zhaoxing reiterated China's stance on the issue.

Li said, “Secretary Rice and I have reached consensus on the objective of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. The nuclear crisis should be solved through dialogue and negotiations. It is in the interests of all parties concerned to resume the stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole.”

Secretary Rice agreed with her Chinese counterpart, and insisted that the six-party talks should be reactivated as soon as possible.

Rice said, “The DPRK should come back to the six-party talks without condition and begin implementing the September 2005 agreement of the talks.”

Last weekend, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to punish the DPRK for last monday's nuclear test, imposing arms and financial sanctions on the country.

In response, the DPRK rejected the UN resolution, saying the nuclear test was entirely attributable to what it called continued US threats, sanctions, and pressure.

Liu Ming from CCTV said, “With the recent UN Security Council resolution, US pressure and opposition from the international community, the DPRK is still taking a tough stance over its nuclear program. There continues to be a big question mark over whether the DPRK will come back to the six-party talks instead of escalating the crisis.”

Editor:Sun Luying