China agrees to inspections but not interdiction

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (Reuters) China's UN Ambassador today said his country would carry out inspections to spot any suspicious arms from North Korea but ruled out interdiction, an apparent reference to stopping cargo on the high seas.

''Inspections yes, but inspections are different from interception and interdiction.'' Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters.

China voted for the UN Security Council resolutions on Saturday that imposed sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test.

But Wang said the resolution did not make it mandatory for all nations to inspect cargo going to and from North Korea. He said states could carry out such an operation as necessary ''in accordance with their national legal authorities.'' ''I think in that area, different countries would do it in different ways,'' he said.

On Saturday, China made clear it opposed the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative, launched in 2003. The PSI encourages the interdiction of dangerous weapons from North Korea, Iran and other states of concern.

REUTERS SAM VV2223