US, China clash over UN N. Korea statement
(AFP/AP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 06:45

The United States and China were clashing at the UN nuclear watchdog over drafting a resolution welcoming North Korea's pledge to abandon atomic weapons, with Washington wanting to make it clear a light-water nuclear reactor is not about to be offered.

"The United States now realizes that China is in the driver's seat in the six-party talks and wants to do things for North Korea," a diplomat close to the watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told AFP.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill (L) shakes hands with North Korea's chief negotiator Kim Gye Gwan (R) as South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Song Min-soon looks on at the close of talks over North Korea's nuclear crisis held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China September 19, 2005. [Reuters]

Another IAEA diplomat said: "China wants to be as loyal as possible to the six-party declaration made in Beijing," referring to the breakthrough earlier this month in negotiations joining North Korea, the United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.

China wanted the resolution to mention a light-water nuclear reactor and other commitments made to the North in exchange for its decision, AP quoted diplomats, who requested anonymity in exchange for discussing the confidential details of the dispute over a North Korean resolution, as saying. 

The Chinese want all the commitments agreed to by the other nations to be listed in detail, said one of the diplomats. "But the others think this should be a resolution over North Korea and not over the six-party talks," the diplomat said, according to the AP report.

The agreement reached at the six-party talks mentions the possibility of Pyongyang receiving light-water reactors to generate nuclear power.

In talks at the IAEA's 139-nation general conference this week in Vienna, the United States does not want light-water reactors to be mentioned in the proposed resolution on North Korea, diplomats said.

US spokesman Matthew Boland said: "Discussions are ongoing." He did not provide details. The IAEA conference ends Friday.

The breakthrough agreement has led to bickering over how quickly Pyongyang should move on its promises and how quickly it will get promised incentives, especially the light-water reactors.

North Korea had agreed in Beijing to a statement of principles on abandoning its atomic weapons in return for energy and security guarantees.

North Korea said it would scrap its weapons, return to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accept IAEA inspectors in return for security guarantees, economic benefits and energy aid.

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