North Korea is not planning a second nuclear test and is willing to return to six-party talks under certain conditions but warned that it would take action if it feels pressured, AP QUOTED a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying Tuesday. Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan was told during meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and other officials iting of U.S. dollars and other illicit activity. Pyongyang has denied the charges and boycotted six-nation talks on its nuclear program until the U.S. ends the crackdown. A second test has been widely believed to be a possibility. Earlier this month, U.S. media reported that Pyongyang may be preparing for another, citing suspicious activity at a suspected test site in the North's northeast. But on Tuesday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the U.S. military had not detected signs of preparations for a second atomic test. U.S. military officials gave that intelligence assessment to their South Korean counterparts during annual defense talks in Washington last week, Yonhap said, citing unidentified defense officials. Officials at the Defense Ministry were not immediately available for comment. The developments demonstrate the uncertainty that has surrounded the nuclear standoff since the North's test, which prompted the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions against Pyongyang. Also Tuesday, Ban Ki-moon, the next United Nations secretary-general and South Korea's foreign minister said Seoul backs the sanctions. Ban said he plans to use his new position as U.N. chief, which he'll assume at the beginning of next year, to «seek an active role for the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.» So far, South Korea hasn't outlined any specific action it plans to take in accord with the resolution, which calls for countries to take steps to prevent Pyongyang from continuing its weapons trade. The U.S. has urged the South to join an anti-proliferation initiative, and to take steps for more accountability in joint economic projects with the North. Ban said Seoul was still «reviewing our policies to bring them closer in line» with the U.N. resolution. As part of the rush of diplomatic exchanges since the nuclear test, Ban wasesumption of the six-party talks or that North Korea will abandon its nuclear program,» according to Kyodo news agency and public broadcaster NHK. Wu, who is Beijing's top nuclear envoy, accompanied Chinese officials on a special mission to Pyongyang last week to discuss the nuclear dispute. Liu told reporters that «all countries involved in the six-party talks believe that the talks should be resumed but of course the parties do not all agree on how.» «Consultations are required to find a way acceptable to all,» he said.
