China understands the "gravity" of the situation arising from the sinking of the South Korean navy ship, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing Tuesday after the conclusion of the two-day China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues, Clinton said her government will be working with China to respond to the "provocative action" by North Korea, which has been blamed by international investigators for the March 26 incident in the Yellow Sea in which 46 South Korean sailors died.
China, North Korea's main ally and its major benefactor, has thus far called for restraint in dealing with situation as tensions worsen on the the Korean Peninsula.
"We expect to be working together with China in responding to North Korea's provocative action, and promoting stability in the region," Clinton said in remarks posted on the U.S. State Department Web site.
She said China "shares with us the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a period of careful consideration ... to determine the best way forward in dealing with North Korea as a result of this latest incident."
Clinton said the U.S. delegation in Beijing held "productive and detailed discussions" with Chinese leaders on North Korea.
"The Chinese understand the gravity of this situation. And (Chinese) Premier Wen (Jiabao) will be traveling to (South Korea) on Friday to consult with President Lee (Myung-bak)," she said. "We pledged to stay in very close consultation."
Everything I've seen about this trip and Hillary's meetings there indicated that she really did a great job, and was well received.
__________________
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
I was especially glad to hear that she discussed economic/trade issues with the Chinese leaders. This is a huge issue here in Detroit, where so many people's jobs have gone to China.