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Rice: Resolution sends 'clear message'

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.N. resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea was a "clear message" that Pyongyang must "make a new set of calculations" about its nuclear endeavors.

"North Korea cannot endanger the world and then expect other nations to conduct business as usual in arms or missile parts," Rice told reporters on Monday. "It cannot destabilize the international system and then expect to exploit elaborate financial networks built for peaceful commerce."

The need to resolve the crisis increased Tuesday after government officials in South Korea and Japan said there were signs that North Korea could be preparing for a second nuclear test.

Japan said it had received information on possible second North Korea nuclear test, according to the Kyodo News agency.

A South Korean government official in Seoul said his government had received intelligence reports about preparations for a possible test but it was unclear how reliable they were, according to a report from The Associated Press.

A U.S. intelligence official said that there had been "activity" at several North Korea sites, but added that it was not clear if the activity amounted to preparations for another nuclear test.

"We're not ruling that out," the official told CNN. But the intelligence was "ambiguous, and not conclusive," the official stressed.

The official, with access to classified U.S. intelligence, said he was "not aware of any evidence pointing to an imminent test."

"I wouldn't bet the mortgage on a second test," the official said.

In her comments Monday, Rice said a diplomatic avenue must be kept open to North Korea.

"We must remind North Korea that a positive path remains open to it through the six-party talks," Rice said. "Thus far, North Korea has chosen the path of confrontation and all that that entails -- deepening isolation, a failing economy, and few opportunities for its oppressed peoples.

The secretary's comments came on the eve of her trip to Asia, where she'll meet with other parties in the six-way talks on how to implement the sanctions.

"We expect every member of the international community to fully implement all aspects of this resolution," Rice said. "And we expect the Security Council to aggressively monitor the process."

Earlier in the day, Chinese U.N. ambassador Wang Guangya said his country would inspect cargo bound for and coming out of North Korea. That contradicts statements he made Saturday, hours after the resolution passed, that his country would find it politically difficult to conduct such inspections. China is North Korea's biggest trading partner.

"But inspections is different from interception and interdiction," he clarified Monday. "I think in that area that different countries will do it in different ways."

Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs, told CNN's "American Morning" the United States had received reports that Chinese officials were inspecting cargo in trucks along its 800-mile border with North Korea on Monday.

Burns said Australia also announced that it was barring North Korean ships from its ports, and Japan was mulling further measures.

Rice said that during her trip, she'll also talk with North Korea's neighbors about how to "design a practical architecture for detecting and screening" materials that could be used to further North Korea's nuclear program.

She'll also work with the other countries to "ensure the continued vitality of the global regime to prevent and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

The Security Council resolution, which passed by a vote of 15-0, was in response to North Korea's claim that it had tested a nuclear device last week. (Full story)

The measure forbids trade between U.N. member states and North Korea in material that may be used for nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and high-end military equipment. It requires Pyongyang not to conduct further nuclear tests or launch ballistic missiles and it demands that the country abandon all weapons of mass destruction programs.

The resolution also includes a ban on "trade and luxury goods," requires member states to freeze the assets of North Korean entities and individuals, and calls for inspections of cargo traveling from and to North Korea to search for items that may be used in a nuclear or other WMD program.(Resolution text)

Burns said the measure has "real teeth."

"These are very tough sanctions, they're among the toughest ever imposed on any country by the United Nations," he said. "And we hope they will convince the North Koreans to recalculate the cost and benefits of what they're trying to do, developing a nuclear weapons program."

Former Sen. Sam Nunn, who once chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN on Monday that North Korea has made a "big miscalculation" in pushing forward with its nuclear program, but Washington needs to sit down face-to-face with Pyongyang to move forward.

"The real challenge is to have serious discussions, six-party talks or bilateral, whatever is necessary, so that North Korea can understand that there are both carrots and sticks here," said Nunn. "And enormously important that the United States be willing to discuss security assurances with North Korea, because no nation is likely to give up their nuclear weapons unless they have assurances that the negotiating party is not going to insist on regime change and try to bring them down."

The Bush administration has been reluctant to engage in bilateral discussions with Pyongyang.

"I think the administration has an ideological kind of -- to me, not understandable -- policy of believing that when you talk to someone, you're rewarding them and if you won't talk to them, you're punishing them. I don't think that's effective punishment," Nunn said.

The former senator from Georgia said it's time for the parties in the six-way talks to come together.

"We're in a race between cooperation and catastrophe, and it's certainly not apparent now who is winning," he said.

Nunn now works with the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a group he co-chairs with CNN founder Ted Turner. The group is working "to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons," according to its Web site.

Nunn said that the handling of North Korea will "be a direct input to Iran as to what we are really serious about or not serious about."

Meanwhile, the U.S. nuclear talks envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, is due to meet with his Japanese counterpart, Kenichiro Sasae, in Japan later in the day Monday.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said the government is arranging for Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso to travel to Seoul for talks with South Korea on how to implement the U.N. sanctions on the North.

U.S. confirms test

An analysis of air samples collected shortly after North Korea declared it had conducted the test confirms it took place, according to the office of the U.S. director of national intelligence.

The analysis detected radioactive debris, indicating the explosive yield was less than one kiloton, said a statement from John Negroponte's office. That is relatively small for a nuclear test.

The first air sample collected after Pyongyang's announcement last week contained no radioactive debris, but a second one did, as CNN reported Friday.

Officials wanted to do more analysis before confirming the North Korean test. Sources said a nuclear facility in Russia is near the North Korean border, and analysts wanted to rule it out as the source of the radioactive debris.

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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