China envoy heads to US for talks on North Korea

BEIJING, Oct 12 (Reuters) China has sent envoy Tang Jiaxuan to the United States in the latest flurry of diplomacy following North Korea's announcement that it conducted a nuclear test, state media reported today.

Tang, a State Councillor and former foreign minister, would follow his Washington trip with a stop in Moscow, Xinhua news agency reported.

China has used forceful language to condemn the actions of North Korea, in a change of tack toward its old Communist ally and neighbour.

But it also shares a 1,400 km border with North Korea and fears any action that could destabilise the country, potentially sending millions of refugees into China.

Since the test, China has refused to rule out the use of sanctions against North Korea, but it called the possibility of military strikes ''unimaginable''.

Tang's visit follows on the heels of a telephone exchange between Chinese President Hu Jintao and George W Bush. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has also spoken to his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is due in Beijing tomorrow for a one-day visit.

REUTERS DH RAI0740