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US, China to Discuss North Korea, Iran at Talks

   Margaret Besheer | Beijing 23 May 2010
   South  Korean President Lee Myung-bak, right, and Prime Minister Chung
   Un-chan arrive to attend an emergency meeting of the National Security
   Council to discuss punitive measures against North Korea, 21 May 2010

Photo: AP

   South  Korean President Lee Myung-bak, right, and Prime Minister Chung
   Un-chan arrive to attend an emergency meeting of the National Security
   Council to discuss punitive measures against North Korea, 21 May 2010

   On the eve of high-level political and economic talks between the U.S.
   and  China,  a senior U.S. official says the two superpowers are still
   at  odds  over  how  to  deal with North Korea and the details of U.N.
   sanctions  to  impose  against  Iran  for  its  controversial  nuclear
   activities.

   The  March  26  torpedo  attack on the South Korean naval ship Cheonan
   killed  46 sailors and has further raised tensions on an already tense
   Korean peninsula.

   An  international investigation has blamed the North for the attack, a
   charge it denies.

   On  Monday,  South  Korean  President  Lee  Myung-bak will address his
   nation  about the incident to outline measures Seoul will take against
   Pyongyang, including among other possible steps, taking it to the U.N.
   Security Council where it could be further sanctioned.

   China, North Korea's main patron, has been reluctant to publicly blame
   Pyongyang  for the attack. But U.S. officials in Beijing for political
   and  economic  talks  expect to intensively raise the issue with their
   Chinese counterparts this week.

   A  senior  U.S.  official,  speaking  to  reporters  on  condition  of
   anonymity,  said  the  Obama  administration "wants China to take some
   steps in the international arena to underscore" how serious the attack
   was.

   While  the  official  said  it  is  not unusual for China to move very
   carefully  on  matters involving North Korea, it is important the U.S.
   shares  its  concerns  and  explains  its position. He said the United
   States  has  been  in close coordination with Seoul and would back all
   steps President Lee announces.

   The   official   said  China  is  still  studying  and  digesting  the
   implications of the investigation.

   Also  on  the agenda at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue this week,
   Iran's suspect nuclear program.

   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is leading the U.S. delegation
   of nearly 200 officials to the talks.

   China  has  strong  economic  and  trade ties with Tehran and has been
   reluctant  to  support new sanctions against the Islamic republic. But
   Beijing recently agreed to support a U.S.-drafted sanctions resolution
   at the United Nations.

   The U.S. official complemented China for progress on the Iranian issue
   and  said  some  substantial  steps  are  still  required  to assure a
   positive outcome in a U.N. Security Council vote.

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