China 'deeply committed' to North Korea sanctions: US official

I / Washington June 27, 2009, 11:06 IST

China has given its word to the United States that it is "deeply committed" to implementing tough new nuclear sanctions against North Korea, a senior US official said today.     

The official also said that as part of the effort to put a straitjacket on Pyongyang after its latest nuclear test and missile launches, Washington had set up an inter-agency team to coordinate the sanctions with other nations.     

"They are certainly saying quite strenuously that they are deeply committed to full implementation of the provisions that are in the resolution," the senior administration official said, referring to China.     

"The real test now will be in implementation," the official said.     

"We are going to obviously take their word seriously, but we'll see in the end what they are prepared to do."     

Beijing is often criticized in the United States for its willingness to join, or carry out tough sanctions regimes against North Korea, particularly in congressional circles.     

Yesterday, Republican Senator John McCain said that China had been "unhelpful, especially on the issue of North Korea."     

"I think it's time we told the Chinese that an important part of our relationship is how they react as far as North Korea is concerned, but also as far as Iran is concerned," the defeated 2008 presidential candidate said.