RUSSIA: Russian President Putin has met China's special envoy Tang Jiaxuan to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue

Russian President Vladimir Putin met China's special envoy Tang Jiaxuan in Moscow on Saturday (October 14) to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue. The U.N. Security Council expects to impose arms and financial sanctions on North Korea on Saturday for its reported nuclear weapons test. Seeking to meet objections from China and Russia, the latest version of the U.S.-drafted resolution makes clear the measures do not include military force under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. The resolution has never threatened force but China wanted to make sure the measure would not be used to justify military action against North Korea. China and Russia, who both hold veto power on the United States Security Council, both condemned North Korea's nuclear test. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov was quoted by Russian news agencies earlier on Saturday, saying that sanctions on North Korea should not even hint at a use of military force. The six-party talks, which involve the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, have been stalled for nearly a year. Russia's envoy to North Korea said on Friday the country signalled it was ready to return to talks.

ITN Source | October 15, 2006

Tags:. .united. .meet. .action. .special. .power