news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100526/ap_on_re_as/as_clinton_south_korea
Hillary Rodham Clinton AP - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a press conference with South Korean Foreign ... By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer - 44 mins ago ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - China has signaled it could soon join the US and its allies in blaming North Korea in the sinking of a South Korean warship, senior American officials said Wednesday. Speaking after strategic talks this week in Beijing, the US officials said China indicated it is prepared to hold North Korea accountable for the March 26 torpedo attack and could join in some kind of formal rebuke by the UN Security Council. The move would represent a breakthrough for the White House, because so far China has resisted condemning North Korea for the incident, which cost the lives of 46 South Korean sailors. China has long been North Korea's patron and ally, propping up Pyongyang's Stalinist-style regime with financial and military aid as well as diplomatic support. On a visit to South Korea this weekend, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is likely to express regret for the deaths and hint that China will accept the results of an international investigation blaming North Korea, the US officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions with China. Wen is also expected to leave open the possibility of backing action against Pyongyang at the UN Security Council, although it's not clear how far Beijing is prepared to go in rebuking its historic ally. In Seoul earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the world must respond to the "unacceptable provocation" represented by the sinking of a South Korean warship, as Pyongyang engaged in blistering rhetoric against Seoul and Washington. Clinton told reporters after talks with South Korean leaders that "the international community has a responsibility and a duty to respond" to the sinking, which "requires a strong but measured response." She spoke at a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan. Clinton did not say what that response should be, but two US officials said the UN could take a variety of actions, ranging from tightening sanctions to a statement rebuking Pyongyang. As one of five permanent members of the Security Council with veto authority, China can block any measure the UN tries to take. Clinton spent hours discussing the sinking with top Chinese leaders during strategic and economic talks in Beijing on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, before spending a few hours in Seoul Wednesday. "I believe that the Chinese understand the seriousness of this issue and are willing to listen to the concerns expressed by both South Korea and the United States," she said in South Korea. "We expect to be working with China as we move forward in fashioning a response." Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula have risen sharply since international investigators issued a report last week saying a North Korean submarine was likely responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan, a corvette patrolling the Yellow Sea. South Korea began implementing a package of punitive measures against the North on Tuesday -- ranging from slashing trade, resuming propaganda warfare and barring the North's cargo ships. After meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Clinton endorsed the moves. "We're very confident in the South Korean leadership, and their decision about how and when to move forward is one that we respect and will support," she said. She praised the investigation of the sinking as "very thorough, highly professional" and "very convincing." She said both the United States and South Korea had offered China "additional information and briefings about the underlying facts of that event." "We hope that China will take us up on our offer to really understand the details of what happened and the objectivity of the investigation that led to the conclusions," she said. China is not the only potential roadblock the US and its allies face when it comes to pushing a tough response through the UN Security Council. Russia is another of the veto-holding permanent council members and must also be persuaded to take action. The Kremlin said in a statement Wednesday that President Dmitry Medvedev has sent a group of experts to Seoul to study the international investigation's findings. "Medvedev considers it a matter of principle to establish the reason for the sinking of the ship," the statement said. South Korea's Yu, asked about the possibility of China or Russia blocking action by the UN Security Council, said they "will take time, I'm sure, but they will not be able to deny the facts."
Report Abuse Armed conflict is so likely it's incredible. SKorea isn't going to roll over this time, NKorea is going to shoot the propaganda speakers that SKorea is putting up, and when that turns into a firefight NKorea will use it as an excuse to mount their full scale war which, according to previous NKorean statements from January last year and in 2003, means nukes. NKorea is getting its military ready and is spewing the most specific threats they've made in a while (a sign that they will be fulfilled). Armed conflict won't be pretty, unless you like blinding fireballs. Their missiles designed to hit the United States will be armed and ready and we'll be seeing massive casualties in SKorea, Japan, Hawaii, and Western United States. Both sides are ready, and there's nothing to stop them from starting a full-scale war other than the tiny chance that one side will roll over in subservience to the other.
Report Abuse Seriously, if the world has to act on every military conflict near the border, the US should now be sanctioned at least a dozen times...... all the "friendly fires" on the Canadian troops, "accident" about bombing the Chinese embassy, more accidents on the reporter in the hotel of Iraq, the recent video-game style shooting of civilians from the helicopter..... the list is pretty long IMHO Comment hidden due to low rating.
They will tell North Korea that the UN is very angry with them, in fact, they will be so pissed off that they will write a angry letter to Kim Jong il and tell him how angry they are with him.
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