N Korea at crossroads, China tells Rice

The issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme has reached a crossroads, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, as both sides urged Pyongyang to return to talks on ending its nuclear programme.

"The North Korea nuclear issue stands at a crossroads," state media quoted Wen as telling Rice. "Whatever course is followed is directly linked to peace and stability in North-East Asia and the world."

Earlier Rice and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urged North Korea to return "without condition" to six-party talks aimed at negotiating an end to its nuclear weapons programme.

Rice said both sides reiterated their commitment to reviving the stalled talks, which have involved the United States, North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

"The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] should return to those talks without condition," Rice told reporters after meeting Li.

She said they also discussed the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which allows sanctions against North Korea following the "serious provocation" of its nuclear test on October 9.

"The minister (Li) and I talked about the full implementation of Resolution 1718 so that we can make sure that there is not a transit entry of dangerous materials," Rice said.

"China will, as always, continue to implement our international obligations," Li said.

He said China would continue its diplomatic efforts to "break the stalemate as soon as possible and reconvene the six-party

talks."

Rice also met State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, who delivered a message from President Hu Jintao to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on Thursday.

During the meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly apologized to Tang for the difficult position it had placed Beijing with its first nuclear test, South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted a Chinese diplomatic source as saying on Friday.

"Kim apologized to Beijing for going ahead with its threatened nuclear test on October 9," the source told Chosun Ilbo.

In Seoul on Thursday, Rice expressed hope that Tang would persuade North Korea to halt its weapons programme and return to talks.

But Chosun Ilbo quoted its source as saying Kim told Tang that North Korea will only return to the talks if Washington lifts financial sanctions.

Last Saturday, the UN Security Council adopted strong measures calling for land and sea traffic to be inspected coming to and from North Korea to prevent nuclear proliferation. It also called for a crackdown on luxury goods entering the country, financial transactions and defence goods. Humanitarian aid would not be affected.

North Korea has called the measures a "declaration of war."

Rice also held talks with Japanese leaders this week and will travel to Russia after leaving China on Saturday. (DPA)