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China takes tough approach to N. Korea

An exasperated China took a newly tough approach to communist ally North Korea on Friday, siding with the United States in saying the North must back away from nuclear confrontation

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published October 21, 2006

BEIJING - An exasperated China took a newly tough approach to communist ally North Korea on Friday, siding with the United States in saying the North must back away from nuclear confrontation, and moving to cut Pyongyang's vital supply of hard currency.

Chinese banks have stopped financial transfers to North Korea under government orders, bank employees said Friday. And at an appearance with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, China's foreign minister nudged the North to resume negotiations over its nuclear program and assured Washington that China would carry out United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang.

"We hope all relevant parties will maintain coolheadedness, adopt a prudent and a responsible approach and adhere to peaceful dialogue," Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said as Rice concluded crisis talks in Asia after the North's Oct. 9 nuclear test blast.

China, which is North Korea's longtime protector, has been reluctant in the past to use economic pressure for fear Kim Jung Il's government might collapse.

But Chinese leaders were stung when the North ignored their warnings not to test-fire missiles over the summer, and again when it defied Beijing by detonating the underground blast this month.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing unnamed Chinese diplomatic sources, reported that Kim told a visiting Chinese envoy he did not plan more nuclear tests. But neither U.S. nor Chinese officials confirmed the report.

China's actions are considered key to enforcing U.N. sanctions on the North .

[Last modified October 21, 2006, 01:56:00]