/ 23 July 2009

Clinton keeps up pressure on North Korea

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Asia’s biggest security community on Thursday to keep the pressure on North Korea to end its nuclear programme and enforce United Nations sanctions against the reclusive state.

Reining in North Korea’s nuclear programme, counter-terrorism cooperation and maritime security took centre stage at Asia’s premier annual security gathering, the Asean Regional Forum.

Burma was also in the spotlight after Clinton on Wednesday said Washington was concerned about the possible transfer of nuclear technology from North Korea to the military junta.

”The United States will continue to work through every avenue to persuade North Korea to eliminate its nuclear programme and normalise relations with the world,” Clinton said in a speech planned for delivery at the meeting.

”The Asean Regional Forum [ARF]can play an important role in achieving this outcome and for continuing to work vigorously to implement Resolution 1874. That means denying North Korean vessels access to any trans-shipment points and cooperating with the enforcement of financial sanctions against those designated entities that support North Korea’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.”

The ARF meeting on the Thai resort island of Phuket has brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from across Asia, Europe and the United States.

North Korea, condemned for recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests, sent low-ranking officials to Phuket. The head of the North’s delegation, ambassador-at-large Pak Kun-gwang, has made little comment but told his Thai hosts this week he did not want Pyongyang to be a punchbag at the security talks.

Clinton also planned to deliver a separate statement giving Pyongyang a choice between more sanctions if it refuses to end its nuclear activities and an array of benefits if it does.

In one indication of how sanctions have begun to bite North Korea, the Financial Times reported on Thursday that Italy has blocked the sale of two luxury yachts to North Korea believed to be destined for leader Kim Jong-il.

The sale of luxury goods to North Kora is banned under Resolution 1874.

China’s Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, said while UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea should be implemented, all sides should work to avoid an escalation of tensions. — Reuters