'Punitive action' urged against North Korea

North Korea must face “some punitive actions” for testing a nuclear device, China’s UN ambassador said today, a sign that Beijing may be willing to impose Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.

China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters that the council must give a “firm, constructive, appropriate but prudent response” to North Korea.

“I think there has to be some punitive actions but also I think these actions have to be appropriate,” he said.

Mr Wang spoke before a meeting of the five permanent members of the Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – plus Japan, to discuss a US-proposed draft resolution that would impose an array of sanctions.

Measures would include a ban on imports of military goods and luxury items, and a crackdown on illegal financial dealings.

While the US and its allies want a swift, tough resolution, the question mark has been China and how much punishment of its ally North Korea it will allow. Mr Wang’s comments suggested that Beijing will at least allow some muscle in the resolution.

In Beijing earlier today, China’s foreign ministry vented its anger against its communist ally over the test for a second day, with a spokesman saying that relations had been damaged.

“The nuclear test will undoubtedly exert a negative impact on our relations,” the spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said at a routine media briefing. He said yesterday’s test was done “flagrantly and in disregard of the international community’s shared opposition”.

Liu seemed to contradict Wang when he said that the time was not right for punishment, much less military action.

The North, meanwhile, stepped up its threats aimed at Washington, saying it could fire a nuclear-tipped missile unless the US acts to resolve its stand-off with Pyongyang, the Yonhap news agency reported from Beijing.

“We hope the situation will be resolved before an unfortunate incident of us firing a nuclear missile comes,” Yonhap quoted an unidentified North Korean official as saying. “That depends on how the US will act.”

The official said the nuclear test was “an expression of our intention to face the US across the negotiating table”, reported Yonhap, which didn’t say how or where it contacted the official, or why no name was given.

Even if Pyongyang is confirmed to have nuclear weapons, experts say it’s unlikely the North has a bomb design small and light enough to be mounted atop a missile.

Their long-range missile capability also remains in question, after a test rocket in July apparently fizzled out shortly after take-off.

The Bush administration today rejected direct talks with North Korea and said it would not be intimidated by the reported threat.

“This is the way North Korea typically negotiates by threat and intimidation,” said US ambassador John Bolton, who was interviewed on television. “It’s worked for them before. It won’t work for them now.”

Mr Bolton did not comment to reporters as he entered the meeting of the five permanent council members and Japan.

Washington has asked the UN Security Council to adopt a measure that would aim to curb the North’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, prohibit all trade in military and luxury goods, and crack down on illegal financial dealings.

France wants a quick UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions.

“As we speak the Security Council is preparing a resolution that would impose sanctions on North Korea,” the French foreign minister said today.

Philippe Douste-Blazy added in a question-and-answer session in parliament: “We have an obligation to react.”