South Korean, Chinese Leaders Reach Consensus on North Korean Issue

韩中领导人就北韩问题达成一致

China says South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Chinese President Hu Jintao have reached a consensus on how to respond to North Korea's claimed nuclear test. China's official news agency, Xinhua, did not provide further information about Friday's meeting in Beijing between the two leaders. But South Korean officials said the two men support "necessary and appropriate" measures against North Korea.

Meanwhile, a new U.S. draft resolution circulated to United Nations Security Council members late Thursday retains stringent economic and weapons sanctions against North Korea, including a travel ban and financial restrictions. It eliminates a blanket arms embargo, but bans heavy conventional weapons such as tanks and combat aircraft.

The U.S. wants a vote on the issue by the end of the week. Russia and China have urged the Security Council not to rush a vote on a resolution, and instead wait for the results of a flurry of high-level diplomacy. Russia says its envoy to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program is in Pyongyang for talks on the latest nuclear development.

中国说，韩国总统卢武铉和中国国家主席胡锦涛已经就如何对北韩声称进行的核试验做出回应达成共识。中国官方的新华社没有详细报导两位领导人星期五在北京会晤的更多细节。但是韩国官员说，两人支持对北韩采取“必要和适当”的措施。

同时，美国星期四晚上向联合国安理会成员分发的一份新决议草案保留了对北韩实施严厉的经济和武器制裁内容，包括旅行禁令和金融限制。草案不再提全面武器禁运，但是禁运坦克和战斗机等重型常规武器。

美国希望安理会在本周结束前进行表决。俄罗斯和中国敦促安理会不要就制裁决议仓促表决，而应先看一系列高层紧急外交努力是否能有结果。俄罗斯星期五表示，俄罗斯参加六方会谈的特使目前正在平壤就最新的局势发展举行会谈。