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Five permanent Security Council members discuss North Korea
United Nations, Apr 08: The major Security Council powers failed to agree on a statement condemning North Korea`s nuclear program because of opposition from China, which has close ties to Pyongyang, diplomats said.
United Nations, Apr 08: The major Security Council powers failed to agree on a statement condemning North Korea's nuclear program because of opposition from China, which has close ties to Pyongyang, diplomats said.
The five permanent council members - the United States,
Russia, China, Britain and France - met at France's UN mission
ahead of tomorrow's meeting of the 15-member council to
discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons situation.
For weeks, China had refused to attend meetings of the four other veto-wielding council members to discuss a statement pushed by the united states that would condemn North Korea for pulling out of the international nuclear arms control treaty.
China's UN ambassador Wang Yingfan did attend yesterday's meeting and told reporters afterward: "we hope that the council would react constructively on this issue." He refused to comment further.
But council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wang was very reluctant to discuss a statement that would condemn North Korea.
North Korea insists on direct talks with the United States on the nuclear dispute and has said it would consider any sanctions imposed by the security council as a declaration of war.
US President George W Bush's administration wants to settle the crisis through multilateral channels, saying North Korea's nuclear programs threaten not just American interests but also those of Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Bureau Report
For weeks, China had refused to attend meetings of the four other veto-wielding council members to discuss a statement pushed by the united states that would condemn North Korea for pulling out of the international nuclear arms control treaty.
China's UN ambassador Wang Yingfan did attend yesterday's meeting and told reporters afterward: "we hope that the council would react constructively on this issue." He refused to comment further.
But council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wang was very reluctant to discuss a statement that would condemn North Korea.
North Korea insists on direct talks with the United States on the nuclear dispute and has said it would consider any sanctions imposed by the security council as a declaration of war.
US President George W Bush's administration wants to settle the crisis through multilateral channels, saying North Korea's nuclear programs threaten not just American interests but also those of Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Bureau Report