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Korea on Rice’s China agenda

Chinese citizens look at a military weapon and missile display at the People's Military Museum in Beijing on Sunday. As U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits China, European nations are considering resuming weapons sales to China. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Chinese citizens look at a military weapon and missile display at the People's Military Museum in Beijing on Sunday. As U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits China, European nations are considering resuming weapons sales to China. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

BEIJING – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged today that if North Korea refuses to resume international arms talks the United States and Asian allies will have to pursue “other options.”

Rice also asked Chinese leaders for more help to bring North Korea back to six-way talks meant to end its nuclear weapons program. The Pyongyang regime has said it already has at least one nuclear weapon and has given no indication it is ready to bargain further.

“It goes without saying that to the degree that a nuclear-free Korean peninsula gets more difficult to achieve if the North does not recognize that it needs to do that, then of course we’ll have to look at other options,” Rice said at a news conference as she wrapped up a weeklong trip to Asia.

She did not spell out the fallback position, but it could include seeking tough economic sanctions on North Korea through the United Nations Security Council. Theoretically, the United States might also launch a military attack, although Rice and other U.S. officials have said they do not intend to do that.

“Obviously everyone is aware that there are other options in the international system,” the secretary said.

As part of a two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Rice took time to attend a Palm Sunday church service at one of the city’s few state-sanctioned churches. Although Rice has said the United States is not satisfied with religious freedom in China, she let her presence at Gangwashi Christian Church speak for itself.

Rice, a regular churchgoer who has described herself as deeply religious, listened to an English translation of the Chinese sermon. As she and her American delegation left, the minister said “God bless the United States.”

Rice met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other senior officials this morning.

“We have agreed that we have many interests in common. When we have differences, we can handle them and address them with respect,” Rice told Li.

China was the final stop on a weeklong tour of Asian capitals for Rice, and it was the most delicate for America’s new chief diplomat. President Bush’s second-term pledge to carry democratic ideals around the globe has met with suspicion in China, where government control remains a strong and constant fact of daily life.

The United States is cooperating with China on several fronts, including the six-nation talks over North Korea’s nuclear program. But Washington has complaints about China’s record on human rights, its treatment of dissidents and the rampant piracy of movies, books and other goods.

Rice also suggested that European governments would be acting irresponsibly if they sold sophisticated weaponry to China that might one day be used against U.S. forces in the Pacific.