UN agency issues N. Korea resolution

VIENNA -- The UN atomic watchdog agency took North Korea to task yesterday for breaching the nuclear arms control treaty but welcomed its pledge to give up atomic weapons in a resolution that highlights US priorities for future talks with Pyongyang.

China refrained from co-sponsoring the resolution in a reflection of its displeasure with a text focusing on Washington's priorities. Still, diplomats noted that the resolution was submitted to the 139-nation International Atomic Energy Agency's General Assembly only after Beijing indirectly signed off on it.

Russia -- which along with China is one of five nations negotiating with North Korea over scrapping its nuclear arms -- also did not co-sponsor the text, showing that it, too, was unhappy with the outcome.

The document was adopted by consensus, but has only symbolic value because the meeting has no enforcement powers.

But the dispute is significant because it reflects the disagreement on how to proceed at a more important level -- future talks among North Korea, China, the United States, Russia, South Korea, and Japan.

The discussions are meant to build on Pyongyang's commitment to mothball its nuclear weapons.

Confirming the differences and outlining Washington's concerns, a State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said Thursday the Americans were insisting any resolution agreed upon in Vienna should not ''change any understandings or what was agreed to at the six-party talks."