Sooner the better for N.Korea talks, says China

BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) China said today it wanted an early resumption of six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme but stressed those negotiations would not address the lifting of U N sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said no date had been set for the long-stalled talks, but he made it clear Beijing was keen for a quick restart.

''If we're prepared and each side agrees, then sooner the better,'' he told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Today's remarks were the first official Chinese comment since North Korea agreed on Tuesday to return to the six-party talks, grouping the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia.

Washington has said it will ''address'' North Korea's concerns about a U S clampdown on its external financing in the next round of talks, which Pyongyang had boycotted since November last year in protest at those restrictions.

Liu praised the ''flexibility'' over the financial standoff that Pyongyang and Washington showed in Tuesday's breakthrough meeting.

North Korea's nuclear test on Oct 9 drew worldwide condemnation and United Nations sanctions under Resolution 1718.

China was stinging in its condemnation of the test, calling it a ''brazen'' act by its longtime communist partner. Beijing gave crucial backing to the U N sanctions targeting trade in weapons and luxury goods with North Korea.

Spokesman Liu said those sanctions would stay in force and lifting them was not within the powers of the six-party talks, which Beijing has hosted since 2003.

''Resolution 1718 in fact reflects the consensus of the international community and each country has a duty to strictly and responsibly implement it and China is no exception,'' Liu said.

''As for what impact the talks will have on implementation of Resolution 1718, this is not something that needs the decision of the six-party talks.'' North Korea's surprise decision to return to negotiations has raised speculation that China pressured Pyongyang by squeezing the struggling fortress state's economic lifelines with its much larger and richer neighbour.

Chinese trade data released on Monday indicated that in September China sent no crude oil to the energy-famished North -- before the nuclear test, but after Pyongyang ignited regional anger by test-firing missiles.

North Korea relies on China for nearly all its oil. But Liu denied China pressured its neighbour into concessions.

''China has never approved of using pressure and sanctions to solve problems,'' he said.

REUTERS SSC BS1507