| The United States has told its Asian allies | | | | enter the job with a "heavy heart." |
| that traces of radiation have been detected | | | | |
| that may confirm North Korea's announcement | | | | He says North Korea defied international |
| of a nuclear test. Word of the still | | | | warnings by conducting its nuclear test, and |
| inconclusive findings comes as Washington | | | | he vows to use his new office to coordinate |
| leads efforts in New York for a United | | | | close cooperation among U.N. members to |
| Nations resolution punishing North Korea. | | | | respond to the North. |
| | | | |
| U.S. intelligence officials have told their | | | | North Korea's apparent test has sparked a new |
| South Korean and Japanese counterparts that | | | | round of regional diplomacy here in Asia. A |
| U.S. aircraft have detected traces of | | | | senior Russian envoy who just returned from |
| radiation near North Korea. | | | | North Korea says he urged the North to return |
| | | | to multilateral talks aimed at ending its |
| While there is still no formal confirmation | | | | nuclear weapons programs. He called the visit |
| of Monday's nuclear test announcement by | | | | "very useful," but did not provide details. |
| North Korea, analysts say the finding of | | | | |
| radioactivity in the area would strongly | | | | President Roh Moo-hyun visited Beijing |
| suggest that the test was genuine. | | | | Friday, where he says he and Chinese |
| | | | President Hu Jintao agreed in principle to |
| South Korea says it has assumed that was the | | | | back U.N. Security Council action against |
| case all along. A spokesman for South Korean | | | | North Korea. |
| President Roh Moo-hyun said the radiation | | | | |
| will therefore not alter Seoul's response, | | | | U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is |
| which is to support sanctions, as long as | | | | scheduled to visit China, Japan, and South |
| they are not extreme. | | | | Korea next week to seek cooperation in |
| | | | dealing with the North Korean issue. |
| President Bush is urging the United Nations | | | | |
| Security Council to pass a resolution with | | | | A new U.S.-prepared draft resolution |
| "real consequences" for Pyongyang when it | | | | circulating at the U.N. Friday evening is |
| convenes for a vote Saturday. China and | | | | less strict towards North Korea than the |
| Russia, however, have demanded that the | | | | original, in recognition of Russian and |
| resolution explicitly rule out the use of | | | | Chinese concerns. |
| military force against the North. The | | | | |
| last-minute wrangling may cause the vote to | | | | The draft replaces a complete weapons embargo |
| be delayed. | | | | with more targeted language banning North |
| | | | Korea from importing major military items |
| South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, | | | | such as tanks, missiles, and aircraft. It |
| who was formally elected Friday as the next | | | | would authorize all nations to stop and |
| U.N. secretary-general, said Saturday he will | | | | inspect shipping to and from North Korea. |