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China, France Call for Diplomacy to Resolve North Korean Standoff
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=665676&l=1009&ctl=1491E39:A6F02AD83191E160D49B27762FF20A289574F7DCC14957C0 North Korea stirred
international outcry after it detonated a nuclear device underground
earlier this month China and France are expressing "serious" concern
about North Korea's recent nuclear test, saying the crisis should be
resolved through urgent diplomacy.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting French President Jacques
Chirac issued a joint declaration Thursday in Beijing, urging North
Korea to return to six-nation disarmament talks.

The leaders encouraged all parties involved in the talks to peacefully
resolve the nuclear standoff.

North Korea stirred international outcry after it detonated a nuclear
device underground earlier this month. In response, the U.N. Security
Council imposed financial and weapons sanctions on Pyongyang.







Lee Jong-Seok (File photo)Also Thursday, South Korean Unification
Minister Lee Jong-seok said Seoul will ban the entry of North Koreans
involved in the country's nuclear weapons program.

It is Seoul's first attempt at enforcing the U.N. sanctions against
Pyongyang.

On Wednesday, North Korea warned South Korea that it would take action
if Seoul imposes the international sanctions against Pyongyang.

Later in the day, President Bush said threats by North Korea are
designed to test the will of the five nations trying to peacefully
resolve the nuclear crisis.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a speech Wednesday
that she was pleased by the serious commitment of U.S. allies to the
Security Council resolution.

The resolution prevents trade in a range of goods, freezes North
Korean assets and bans travel for people connected to Pyongyang's
nuclear weapons program.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP, Reuters


.