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Officials in Beijing say a Chinese envoy met with North Korean leader Kim Jong
Il Thursday to discuss the international crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear
weapons test. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman says a message sent by
President Hu Jintao was delivered to Kim by Mr. Hu's envoy, former foreign
minister Tang Jiaxuan. Fuller details of the talks in Pyongyang have not been
disclosed.
U.S. officials said earlier Thursday they believe the message contained a
very strong warning to Kim not to conduct any further nuclear tests.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in South Korea Thursday for
talks on how to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea following its
underground nuclear explosion on October 9th. The United States is urging
South Korea to join in inspections at sea of ships carrying cargo to North
Korea. Government officials in Seoul, however, are concerned that such
inspections could lead to clashes with North Korea.
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