China, Russia reject U.S. plan to punish N. Korea

China, Russia reject U.S. plan to punish N. Korea

SEOUL (Reuter): China and Russia yesterday opposed a U.S. plan
to punish North Korea for the secrecy of its nuclear program
while former U.S. president Jimmy Carter and Pyongyang's leaders
addressed "misunderstandings" they said were at the heart of the
matter.

Neither of North Korea's old communist allies said they would
veto the measure in the UN Security Council.

The Russians said they had not been consulted about a draft
resolution Washington prepared for the council that would phase
in sanctions against North Korea for refusing to permit
international inspections of its nuclear facilities.

The United States and its allies fear North Korea is making
nuclear weapons.

Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev told reporters in Moscow the
United States had failed to consult Russia about the document and
this violated earlier agreements that had brought the two Cold
War superpowers close to agreement.

Kozyrev had said earlier that Russia would support sanctions
as a last resort.

"China in principle does not subscribe to the involvement of
the Security Council in the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula
or the resort to sanctions to solve it," Foreign Ministry
spokesman Shen Guofang told reporters.

Shen repeatedly urged all parties in the dispute to negotiate
and said there was too much bellicose talk surrounding the
crisis.

There should be "less talk of war and more of specific ways of
seeking a proper settlement", he said.

The tone of talks between Carter and North Korean President
Kim Il-sung was decidedly moderate, with both speaking of
"misunderstandings".

"What is important between us is trust, confidence, in each
other," Kim told Carter at the Pyongyang presidential palace.
Part of the meeting was broadcast on Cable News Network
television.

"The meeting...is the starting point of the first confidence
in each other," he said, adding that "misunderstandings" were to
blame for mistrust.

Carter, who is acting as a private citizen, replied that the
meeting was "an opportunity to address some of the
misunderstandings and to try and overcome them."

"We've had a long discussion about the nuclear issue and other
matters that are of interest between our two countries," Carter
said after the meeting. "I think we have come to a much better
understanding of the different points of view."

Later, Carter met North Korea's First Deputy Foreign Minister
Kang Sok-chu, who has headed previous negotiations between
Pyongyang and Washington, CNN reported.

Phases of sanctions

Madeleine Albright, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations,
on Wednesday outlined two phases of sanctions she wants the UN
Security Council to adopt.

The first half would not take effect for 30 days, giving North
Korea time to cooperate with the Vienna-based International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its past diversion of nuclear
fuel.

These sanctions include a mandatory arms embargo, a ban on all
air traffic except for passenger flights, an end of development
aid from all states and the United Nations and a ban on
scientific and technical cooperation.

The draft also calls for curbs on North Korean participation
in sporting, cultural, commercial and educational exchanges.

The second phase, which would require another resolution
should North Korea violate IAEA regulations in the future, would
impose a freeze on all financial transactions, including most
remittances North Koreans in Japan send home. The money gives
Pyongyang up to US$1.8 billion a year in hard currency.

U.S. officials also spoke of a further step if the crisis
continued unabated, which could call for a total trade embargo,
including oil, most of which comes from China.