Clinton Presses China for Stronger Action on North Korea

25 May 2010

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gestures at a press conference in Beijing, China. Clinton stepped up pressure on China on Tuesday to back international action against North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship, calling peace and security on the Korean peninsula 'a shared responsibility' between Washington and Beijing, 25 May 2010.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is pressing China for stronger action on North Korea.

Secretary Clinton said the Chinese understand the gravity of the situation on the Korean peninsula, where tensions have risen sharply following the March 26 torpedo attack that sank a South Korean warship, killing 46 sailors.

"No one is more concerned about peace and stability in this region as the Chinese," Clinton stated. "We know this is a shared responsibility and in the days ahead we will work with the international community and our Chinese colleagues to fashion an effective and appropriate response."

Speaking alongside senior Chinese officials at the end of two days of talks, she said the two superpowers would be working together to resolve the matter.

The U.S. has expressed strong support for the South Korean president and his intention to refer the matter to the U.N. Security Council, where the United States and China are veto-wielding members. But China, Pyongyang's main patron, has not publicly condemned the attack or even acknowledged that North Korea was to blame.