Rice to visit China, SKorea, Japan next week

WASHINGTON—US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will travel to Japan, South Korea and China early next week to discuss tough response to North Korea's reported nuclear test and talk about security situation in the region.
The visit will have scheduled stops in Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing from October 17 to 22, officials said Friday afternoon. "It's also an opportunity for her in the region to reaffirm and talk about the strength of our existing alliances there and also to have a bit more of a wider conversation with others in the region about the current situation, about the security situation, and also to talk broadly about nonproliferation efforts," Spokesman Sean McCormack said.
She will talk about also how to implement the UN resolution on North Korean nuclear issue that Washington hopes to get passed by the UN Security Council on Saturday.
Major UN powers are debating action against North Korea in the wake of its Monday's nuclear test announcement that provoked worldwide concern and US calls for tough sanctions against Pyongyang.
The US Administration has ruled out bilateral talks with North Korea and wants strict sanctions against the country for its nuclear threat. Senior officials have said US has no intention of attacking North Korea and wants to address the issue diplomatically. —Agencies