Rice: UN resolution to get N Korea back to talks

St Petersburg (Russia), Jul 16: A UN Security Council resolution imposing weapons-related sanctions on North Korea will help get Pyongyang back to talks on its nuclear plans, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today.

Because of the international unity displayed by Saturday's resolution, ''ultimately, North Korea will have no choice but to return to the talks and pursue de-nuclearisation of the Korean penninsula,'' Rice told reporters at a G8 summit in Russia.

President George W Bush, also attending the summit in St Petersburg of the Group of Eight industrialised countries, was to hold a meeting later in the day with Chinese President Hu Jintao, with North Korea expected to be an important topic.

Rice praised China for the ''responsibility'' she said it showed by supporting the resolution on North Korea and said Bush would convey his appreciation to Hu.

''Here we have an affirmative Chinese vote -- not an abstention,'' she said.

Rice said China's vote helped underscore the commitment to the six-party framework of talks which have been held by the United States, North and South Korea, Russia, Japan and China.

The negotiations stalled last November because Pyongyang objected to US financial sanctions based on accusations North Korea counterfeited US currency and trafficked drugs.

Defying international warnings, North Korea launched at least six missiles on July 5 and a seventh some 12 hours later. A long-range Taepodong-2 fell into the Sea of Japan.

The Security Council resolution requires all UN members to prevent imports from or exports to North Korea of missiles and missile-related items as well as materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction.

North Korea said it ''totally rejects'' the resolution.

To avert a China veto, the resolution does not mention Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which is cited in a legally binding document.

But White House aide Dan Bartlett said the resolution that was passed would have ''very much the same effect as a Chapter 7 resolution''.

He played down comments by North Korea's UN Ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, who said he saw no need for the North to halt missile launches.

''It probably is not surprising that they (the North Koreans) immediately rejected, but sometimes the first response is not the only response, the final response,'' Bartlett said.

REUTERS