free Korean peninsula gets more difficult to achieve if the North does not (return to the talks) then of course we'll have to look at other options,» Rice said. Rice said she appealed for China to use its status as the North's main ally and aid donor to draw Pyongyang back to the talks, which also include South Korea, Japan and Russia. «The very strong emphasis of the conversation was to determine how we could, each in our own way _ but particularly China _ make very clear to the North Koreans that the time has come for them to return to the talks,» Rice said. Beijing insists it has little influence over Kim's isolated Stalinist regime and has resisted U.S. appeals to pressure its ally. China is believed to supply the North with up to one-third of its food and one-quarter of its energy. Analysts say the North's declaration last month that it has nuclear weapons might prompt China to force Pyongyang back into talks. But they say Beijing might be holding out for a U.S. overture to make the North return willingly. U.S. and Chinese diplomats met last week in Shanghai with their counterparts from Japan and South Korea to discuss possible steps to get North Korea back to the bargaining table. The North wants aid and a peace treaty with the United States in exchange for a settlement. --mor 1508 Local Time 1208 GMT
