China urges UN caution over North Korea
By Mark Turner, Anna Fifield and Mure Dickie
October 13, 2006
The Financial Times
Original Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e14d6a6e-5a57-11db-8f16-0000779e2340.html

China and Russia yesterday threw doubt on US hopes for a quick United Nations resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea, amid a flurry of diplomatic activity between Chinese and Russian officials.
The US circulated a tough new draft under the UN's Chapter 7 provisions and said it wanted a vote today. But China urged caution, and called for its provisions to be watered down.
The nuclear test . . . has to be fully opposed and condemned, said Wang Guangya, China's ambassador to the UN. The response should be firm, forceful and appropriate, he said, but also helpful for finding a solution by peaceful means.
The Security Council, he added, should take a responsible attitude and create conditions for the parties once again to engage in negotiations.
China is opposing a full Chapter 7 resolution, which the US, Europe and Japan have sought. It is also resisting UN authorisation for countries to interdict North Korea shipping.
However, an adviser to President George W. Bush said yesterday the US and China agreed on the need for strong measures.
Mr Bush met Tang Jiaxuan, Chinese state councillor, at the White House to discuss the UN resolution, J. D. Crouch, deputy national security adviser, told reporters.
Mr Tang also met Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, and Stephen Hadley, national security adviser.
Vitaly Churkin, the Russian UN ambassador, called for a strong reaction but a cool-headed reaction. Some strong statements made by others . . . have aggravated matters. We do not want to repeat this on the level of the Security Council.
Pyongyang yesterday warned against tough unilateral sanctions imposed by Japan.
We will take strong counter-measures, said Song Il-ho, North Korea's ambassador on diplomatic normalisation talks with Japan, in an interview with Kyodo News. The specific contents will become clear if you keep watching. We never speak empty words.
The latest US draft would oblige all countries to prevent the direct or indirect supply of all arms, luxury goods and items that could contribute to North Korea's nuclear, ballistic missile and other weapons programmes. Governments would also have to freeze North Korean funds.
Faced with opposition from China and Russia, the US has said it could go ahead with interdictions under its proliferation security initiative even without explicit authorisation in the resolution, but that it would like Chapter 7 endorsement.
China's precise strategy is unclear. This week, Mr Wang said punitive action was necessary, but the Associated Press yesterday quoted Liu Jianchao, China's foreign ministry spokesman, as saying punishment should not be the purpose of international action.