Beijing, May 24: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday urged China to cooperate on the challange posed by North Korea’s sinking of a South Korean naval ship.
She made the call at the start of high-level talks with China in Beijing. The United States wants China to join international condemnation of North Korea, which South Korea has said was responsible for torpedoing its warship, the Cheonan, on March 26, killing 46 sailors.
China is North Korea’s only major political and economic backer, and Beijing has avoided firm public comment on the ship sinking, instead expressing sympathy for the South Koreans killed and urged all sides to show restraint.
China irked South Korea earlier this month by hosting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on a rare trip abroad.
–Agencies