US protests over interception of plane by N Korea

‘‘We told the North Koreans that their provocations run counter to the international community’s clear desire for a peaceful diplomatic path to ensuring a nuclear weapons-free Korean peninsula,’’ the US State Department said.

Meanwhile, North Korea kept up a rhetorical barrage against US and South Korea on Tuesday after test-firing a cruise missile. Some S Koreans feel US’s readiness to appear outwardly unruffled by Pyongyang while preparing for war with Iraq, despite North’s suspected nuclear ambitions, is a high-risk diplomatic strategy.

US Democrats and other critics are pressing the Bush administration to begin talks immediately, arguing N Korea’s apparent desire to go nuclear is a greater threat than Iraq. But Washington is insistent on multilateral rather than direct talks with Pyongyang. The North’s news agency quoted the Communist daily Rodong Sinmun as saying the US-led proposal for talks was Washington’s way of dodging its responsibility for the nuclear crisis. The US wants to talk to Pyongyang in a multilateral setting as the North’s suspected nuclear weapons programme has regional ramifications. (Reuters)