Rice Hints at Sanctions if North Korea Doesn't Return to Talks

WASHINGTON, MARCH 22 (AGENCIES)

Condoleezza Rice has ended her first Asian trip as Secretary of State, hinting that North Korea could face sanctions if it refuses to return to multiparty talks on its nuclear programs.

"Everybody is aware there are other options [apart from diplomacy] in the international system," she said in Beijing.

Rice did not elaborate, although she did make it clear again that that U.S. had no intention to "attack or invade" North Korea.

Analysts believe that leaves, as the most likely option, intervention by the U.N. Security Council, a step that could lead to sanctions.

Earlier during the 29-month crisis the U.S. attempted to have the Security Council respond to North Korea's nuclear activities, but ran into opposition from China and Russia.
A six-party talks formula was subsequently hammered out, involving the U.S., North and South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

Rice reiterated the U.S. view that the six-way talks provided the only appropriate forum for discussions on disarming North Korea.