China rejects plea to push N. Korea

BEIJING - China yesterday rejected Sen. John McCain's suggestion that it pressure North Korea to rein in its nuclear weapons program, saying that such a move would not bring results.

In neighboring North Korea, Kim Jong Il cemented his leadership of the isolated nation despite an apparent stroke eight months ago. A rubber-stamp assembly re-elected him chairman of the National Defense Commission, the nation's top position.

It marked a new boost for Kim after Sunday's launch of a rocket, which the West decried as a disguised test of a long-range ballistic missile designed to carry a nuclear warhead.

Limping slightly, a grayer and thinner Kim arrived at the grand hall housing the 687-seat Supreme People's Assembly to a standing ovation.

Kim fed the world's curiosity for months about his health and whereabouts after he reportedly had a stroke and underwent brain surgery in August - though North Korea denied he was ever ill.

McCain, visiting Beijing with fellow Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), criticized China for accepting North Korea's explanation that it had launched a satellite into space rather than tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, and refusing to get tough on Pyongyang.

"I want to say frankly what we all know, and that is the nation that has true influence over North Korea is this one [China]," McCain, who lost the presidential race in the fall, told a news conference.

He called on China to "take a strong stand" and support possible new sanctions against North Korea in the U.N. Security Council, where China holds veto power. China is North Korea's closest ally, and provides the bulk of the energy supplies needed to keep the Kim regime afloat. It fears an influx of North Korean refugees if the regime collapses.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu dismissed McCain's advice that Beijing should step up pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "Pressure will not contribute to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Jiang said.

As a rising military power, China closely monitors satellite and space activity. Jiang, however, refused to pass judgment on Sunday's launch, saying only that China had "taken note" of it.

Graham disparaged China for accepting North Korea's explanation, which said its satellite is transmitting patriotic music in homage to Kim and his father, Kim Il Sung.

"Let there be no mistake about it: The missile programs of North Korea are not designed to give better music in space," Graham said.

He said China's position "makes it hard for me to convince my constituents to help China in other areas because they see that behavior as very threatening to U.S. interests."