Clinton seeks China's backing to punish reclusive North Korea

The United States today pressed China for joint action against North Korea following charges that it was behind the sinking of a South Korean warship as it stepped up efforts to isolate and impose sanctions on the reclusive Communist country.

The two-day Sino-US high-level talks were kicked off here with secretary of state Hillary Clinton seeking China's support for sanctions against North Korea, Beijing's close ally.

The second China-US strategic and economic dialogue began in the shadow of rising tensions between the two Koreas over the sinking of a South Korean naval ship, leading to Seoul announcing a series of sanctions against the North.

"North Korea is also a matter of urgent concern," Clinton said. "Last year, we worked together to pass and enforce a strong UN Security Council resolution in the wake of North Korea's nuclear test.

"And today we face another serious challenge, provoked by the sinking of the South Korean ship."

The US backs Seoul and president Barrack Obama has directed military commanders to work with South Korean troops "to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression" from North Korea.

"So we must work together, again, to address this challenge and advance our shared objectives for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," Clinton said, seeking China's support.

"We asked North Korea to stop its provocative behaviour, halt its policy of threats and belligerence towards its neighbours, take irreversible steps to fulfil its de-nuclearisation commitments, and comply with international law," she said at the inaugural meeting attended, among others, by president Hu Jintao of China.

Clinton said that besides Iran, the focus of her talks with the Chinese leadership would be on the fight against extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Beyond these two pressing challenges [North Korea and Iran] there are other shared security concerns that I look forward to discussing, including the fight against violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, counter piracy efforts, and deeper military-to-military cooperation," she said.

In the run-up to the dialogue, both sides have stated that issues relating to South Asia, meaning the India-Pakistan tensions as well as China's new plans to build two 650 MW nuclear reactors, would figure in the talks.