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