China, Asean Call On N Korea To Give Up Nuke Weapons

Nanning China - Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders called on North Korea yesterday to abide by its pledge last year to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, after discussing the issue at a regional summit here.

"We jointly advocate the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and demand all parties continue respecting the September 19 joint statement last year on the aim of denuclearisation," Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said after the summit. "We call on the early resumption of the six-party talks."

At the six-nation talks in September last year, North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for pledges of aid and security.

However North Korea pulled out of the talks - which also involve hosts China, South Korea, the United States, Japan and Russia -three months later because of US financial sanctions imposed against it.

North Korea then declared it had conducted its first test of an atomic bomb on October 9, drawing strong international condemnation even from close ally China.

The United Nations Security Council quickly passed a resolution condemning North Korea for the test, imposing sanctions against it and demanding it return to the six-party talks.

Philippine's President Gloria Arroyo, who co-chaired Monday's summit with Wen, told reporters the North Korean nuclear crisis had drawn the other Asian nations closer.

"In the light of recent events in North Korea, regional peace and security has never been more important ... it helps tie the region together and strengthen solidarity in times of crisis," Arroyo told reporters.

She said the 10 Asean leaders and China had agreed on the way ahead to end the latest flare-up over North Korea.

"We were impressed by the unanimity of every leader on the issue of North Korea and their resolve to work together as a region to seek a diplomatic resolution through the resumption of the six-party talks," Arroyo said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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