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Washington: US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned that more countries are likely to go nuclear unless the international community acts cohesively to stop them, as the US confirms that China has sent an envoy to Pyongyang. “There is at least a reasonable likelihood that some other countries will decide that they need to have nuclear weapons,” Rumsfeld said in a speech to a military audience at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
“And … in a relatively short period you could have two, four, six other countries decide that,” he said.
The effect would be “exactly the opposite of what the international community wants to have happen,” Rumsfeld said. “A lower nuclear threshold, more countries with nuclear weapons, a greater likelihood that one of the countries or more might transfer those weapons to a non-state entity.”
Rumsfeld's comments came 10 days after North Korea detonated its first nuclear explosion and amid fears that a second test may be in the offing.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was traveling in east Asia to try to shore up support for enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea following Pyongyang's first nuclear bomb test October 8.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey confirmed that a senior Chinese official was visiting North Korea amid fear Pyongyang may conduct another nuclear test.
Questioned during a news briefing about the reported presence of Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in North Korea, Casey said: “I do understand that he is, as you say, either in the process of going, or perhaps there already. I'd certainly leave it up to the Chinese government to report back on his meetings.”
The senior Chinese diplomat, who held talks with Bush in Washington last week, is believed to be in the communist state, Jiji Press and Kyodo News reported, quoting unnamed sources in Beijing.
“My understanding is that his trip would be part of Chinese efforts to convince the North Koreans to comply with (UN) Resolution 1718, as well as the other relevant Security Council measures that are out there,” Casey added.
US and Chinese officials have both warned North Korea against exploding another atom bomb. US media, citing unnamed US officials, has reported suspicious movement at a test site.
A US official who spoke privately added: “The Chinese have told us he was going. … I am pretty sure that he is scheduled to have meetings in the North on Thursday.”
Earlier, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said: “We have no information on that currently.”
China is North Korea's top political ally and trading partner and is believed to have the most leverage over the reclusive communist state.
UN Resolution 1718, unanimously approved Saturday by the Security Council, calls on North Korea to return to negotiations about its nuclear program and imposes sanctions on the impoverished state.
Although China supported the resolution, which slapped tough sanctions on North Korea, it has shown mixed feelings about a key measure for countries to search North Korean cargo ships.
