The US prevailed over China on Friday as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution welcoming North Korea's pledge to give up nuclear arms, but taking Pyongyang to task for violating the nonproliferation treaty.
China refused to co-sponsor the text, which was adopted by consensus, in a reflection of Beijing's displeasure with the resolution primarily reflecting US priorities.
Still, diplomats noted that the resolution was submitted to the 139-nation IAEA General Assembly only after China had indirectly signed off on the text.
Russia -- which along with China is one of five nations negotiating with North Korea over scrapping its nuclear arms -- also refrained from co-sponsorship, showing that it, too, was unhappy with the outcome.
With the meeting lacking enforcement powers, the resolution had only symbolic value.
Still, the dispute reflected the disagreement on how to proceed at a more important level: at upcoming talks among North Korea, China, the US, Russia, Japan and South Korea meant to build on Pyongyang's commitment to scrap its nuclear weapons.
Chief US representative to the IAEA Gregory Schulte told the conference that Washington welcomed North Korea's commitment to have all of its nuclear weapons and weapons materials "declared and ... irreversibly eliminated."
The text adopted on Friday welcomes "the positive result" of the talks that led to the breakthrough announcement, but notes "with serious concern" North Korea's announcement in February that it had manufactured nuclear arms and engaged in fuel-rod reprocessing activities that can make the fissile core of nuclear weapons.
It urges North Korea to resume cooperating with the IAEA in the "full and effective implementation" of the agency's safeguards, meant to prevent nuclear proliferation.
The US was insistent that the text make no mention of the promise of a light-water reactor, which is less easily diverted to weapons use than other models, but can still be harnessed for such aims, diplomats said.
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