Clark would not "subcontract" North Korea diplomacy to China: advisor

WASHINGTON (AFP) Jan 16, 2004
Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark would not rely on six-way talks with China to defuse the nuclear weapons standoff with North Korea, his foreign policy advisor said Friday.

"We can't rely on China to subcontract a matter of national security to the United States," James Rubin told reporters at the National Press Club.

"He would negotiate directly with the North Koreans," Rubin said.

Rubin said that North Korea's nuclear program has only grown stronger while diplomacy under President George W. Bush has not produced results.

Clark is vying for the Democratic nomination to challenge Bush in the November 2 election. He is a retired general and was NATO commander during operations in Kosvo.

Rubin was a spokesman for president Bill Clinton's secretary of state, Madeleine Albright.

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