US cautions Asian nations on devp nuke deterrent

Washington, Oct 14: The United States has urged countries near North Korea against developing nuclear deterrents despite the threat posed by the impoverished hermit nation's growing missile and nuclear prowess.

Speaking at a function, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, who is also the head of the US delegation to the Six-party talks on North Korea, said, '' There is no need for countries in the region to consider developing their own nuclear deterrents.'' Hill said the United States and the rest of the world need not and should not accept a nuclear Pyongyang.

He favoured the use of diplomacy and economic sanctions ''to deny the financial and technological resources Pyongyang needs to further its nuclear ambitions''. He said this policy should be pursued vigorously.

He said Pyongyang must be made to understand that it made a ''fundamental mistake'' in defying the international community by conducting nuclear and missile tests.

He said the international community must respond unitedly and that any UN resolution addressing North Korea's intransigence must have ''some teeth to it''.

UNI