Proliferation Update: North Korea

“…North Korea will not be recognized as nuclear-weapon state,”

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao on the U.S.-supported Resolution 1718. The resolution calls on nations to stop any North Korean exporting of nuclear technology.

“Japan, meanwhile, drew up a list of 20 luxury goods to be banned from export to North Korea in line with the U.N. sanctions,” Kyodo News reports today. But the “prospects of implementing the sanctions…appear[s] uncertain in light of reluctance by China and South Korea to push for sanctions now…”

“North Korea is now responding to the international community's resolve,”

Secretary of State Rice told Fox News on Monday.

“Resolution 1718 by the Security Council is the consensus of the international community, and all countries have the obligation to strictly, earnestly, and responsibly implement the Resolution. China is no exception. On the other hand, China hold that no party should expand or interpret Resolution 1718 at will, rather, all parties should take relevant measures strictly in line with the Resolution.”

U.S.-South Korea Joint Statement released after US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns met with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan.

Highlights US-position that NK should not receive more bargaining leverage in upcoming disarmament talks because of its recent test.