A U.S. diplomatic delegation headed by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg on Thursday departed for Asia, in an attempt to address concerns on the latest crisis ignited by Pyongyang's nuclear test.
Steinberg will arrive in Singapore on Friday for the 8th Shangri-La Dialogue, joining Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and other defense ministers from countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and hold bilateral meetings with Singaporean and other officials.
Then he will travel to Tokyo on Sunday for "consultations with senior Japanese officials on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues," said State Spokesman Ian Kelly.
According to the spokesman, "the issue of North Korea and their defiance of their international commitments and defiance of international law" is certainly among the topics for discussions between Steinberg and officials he is to meet.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday " successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test," which Pyongyang said has demonstrated "self-defensive nuclear deterrent. "
Late on Monday, the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously condemned the nuclear test, vowing to prepare a strong response to Pyongyang.
Reports here said a draft resolution, which strongly condemns the DPRK's nuclear test and urges UN member states immediately to enforce previous proved sanctions against Pyongyang, has being circulated among Security Council members.
The draft, prepared by Japan and the United States, would be discussed by the five permanent council members, as well as Japan and South Korea later on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2009)
