US says North Korea headed in 'wrong direction' on nukes

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said that North Korea was headed in the "wrong direction" in negotiations on its nuclear arms program and again brandished the threat of possible UN sanctions.

The State Department also renewed its call on China to exercise "robust diplomacy" to bring North Korea back to six-party talks despite Beijing's reported resistance to punitive pressure on Pyongyang.

The comments came after Thomas Schieffer, the US ambassador to Japan, was quoted as confirming North Korea had begun preparations for a nuclear weapons test after months of bellicose declarations.

"We see rhetoric, claims, statements, activities, whatever, by North Korea that go in the wrong direction," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

"It's...