US urges China to punish North Korea for S. Korea ship sinking

Beijing, May 24 (ANI): The United States on Sunday asked China to back punitive measures against North Korea over strong evidence that Pyongyang was involved in the sinking of the South Korean warship, Cheonan.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met Dai Bingguo, a state councilor of China who oversees foreign affairs, and raised the South Korean government report that formally accused the North of torpedoing the Cheonan in March, killing 46 sailors.

"We want them to take some steps in the international arena to underscore the seriousness of the matter," the New York Times quoted a senior Obama administration official, as saying.

"We have to be realistic about what we can expect," he added.he official said Beijing is still digesting the findings of the investigation, which was aided by the United States and other countries.

China has reacted with extreme caution, waiting for days to express sorrow to South Korea for the loss of the crew and expressing skepticism about North Korea's role. (ANI)