북한 미사일-bbc 에서

US envoy begins talks on N Korea

The Taepodong-2 test-firing failed shortly after take-off The chief American negotiator on North Korea, Christopher Hill, has arrived in China to discuss the international response to the North's missile tests. The visit comes a day after Pyongyang threatened more launches and "stronger" action if put under foreign pressure. The US has backed a Japanese plan for sanctions on North Korea, but China has so far opposed any punitive measures. Instead, Beijing wants more diplomacy and is sending its chief negotiator with the North to Pyongyang next week. South Korea is also against sanctions, although it has threatened to suspend shipments of aid to the North in protest against the missile tests. On Friday the North proposed military talks with the South, but Seoul refused, citing the current high levels of tension. Tests of this kind cannot be considered normal Vladimir Putin Russian President In quotes: Putin webcast The North had harsher words for Japan, demanding that it immediately revoke the sanctions it has already imposed in reaction to the missile launches - such as a six-month ban on a ferry service that provides a vital economic link for Pyongyang. The Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted Song Il-ho, the North Korean envoy in charge of normalisation talks with Japan, as saying that Pyongyang may take "stronger action" if Tokyo continued with the new measures. The North tested seven missiles on Wednesday, one of which was a failed attempt to launch a long-range Taepodong-2, believed to be capable of hitting Alaska. Pyongyang described the tests as successful, despite the failure of the Taepodong-2. All seven missiles landed in the Sea of Japan. The launches were part of "regular military drills to strengthen self-defence", the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Map of North Korean missile ranges "Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future," it added, insisting such action was "our legal right". International divisions US envoy Christopher Hill's visit to Beijing is the first stop on a regional tour to discuss the missile tests. Who stands where? World press reaction S Koreans fear more missiles Mr Hill has met Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing as well as his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, Beijing's chief envoy to the North Korea nuclear talks. He plans to travel to Seoul later in the day. Meanwhile US President George W Bush has also been spearheading efforts to agree a joint response to North Korea's actions. On Thursday night he stressed the need for the international community to "speak with one voice" in response to the tests. The message to Kim Jong-il should be: "There is a better way forward for you than isolating yourself," he said. The UN Security Council resumed debate on Thursday on a draft resolution in response to the launches. The document, co-sponsored by the US, UK and Japan, calls for sanctions against North Korea, but there are key differences among the major powers. Japan is reportedly pushing for economic sanctions, while China and Russia - sympathetic to the North - oppose punitive measures.   NORTH KOREAN MISSILE MOVES 1998: Tests long-range Taepodong-1 over Japan 1999: Agrees to moratorium on long-range tests 2003: Six-nation talks begin on N Korea's nuclear programme 2005: Six-nation talks stall July 2006: N Korea launches seven missiles, including long-range Taepodong-2, which fails N Korea's missile programme China is North Korea's chief benefactor, supplying the country with all of its oil, trade and a lot of aid. US State Department Sean McCormack on Wednesday urged Beijing "to use that leverage, to apply it and encourage a change of behaviour in the North Korean regime". Speaking on a webcast for the BBC, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the test launches were "disappointing", but stressed the need to resume talks. South Korean officials have only agreed to co-operate in diplomacy, with Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok calling for "patient dialogue". Canberra's response Australia announced on Friday that it would scale back its diplomatic ties with North Korea in light of the missile tests. The head of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Michael L'Estrange, did not elaborate on what the changes might be, but he confirmed that Australia would not halt its humanitarian programme in the country. Australia is one of just a handful of countries with limited diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.