SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER BAN KI-MOON ON TUESDAY URGED CHINA TO TRY TO PERSUADE NORTH KOREA NOT TO TEST-FIRE A MISSILE, AND HE ALSO DISCUSSED STALLED NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS WITH PYONGYANG ON HIS VISIT TO BEIJING. U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS EVIDENCE NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE FINISHED FUELLING A TAEPODONG-2 MISSILE FOR A TEST LAUNCH, WHICH WASHINGTON, SEOUL AND TOKYO HAVE SAID WOULD PRESENT A GRAVE THREAT TO REGIONAL SECURITY. BAN MET HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART, LI ZHAOXING, WHO SAID EFFORTS MUST FOCUS ON MAKING SURE NORTH KOREA DOES NOT LAUNCH THE MISSILE AND THAT IT RETURNS TO SIX-PARTY TALKS AIMED AT DISMANTLING ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAMMES. LI SAID CHINA HAD EXPRESSED ITS CONCERN TO THE NORTH ABOUT THE MISSILE LAUNCH, SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL LEE HYUK TOLD REPORTERS. "WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT (CHINA) TRY TO PERSUADE THE NORTH SO THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED SOUNDLY," LEE QUOTED BAN AS SAYING, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS.
