U.S. Will Seek 2-Step Embargo for N. Korea

The Clinton Administration has decided to press for a two-stage economic embargo against North Korea, calling for limited economic sanctions initially, followed by a total halt in trade, if Pyongyang does not give inspectors access to its nuclear plants.

The outlines of the draft proposal, hammered out over the weekend in consultation with South Korean and Japanese officials, were described Monday to diplomats from Britain, France, China and Russia, whose approval is key for any action by the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. and foreign officials said the proposal has strong South Korean and Japanese backing. South Korean President Kim Young Sam and Japanese Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata announced their support Monday for stiff action by the United Nations.

But Administration strategists and diplomats cautioned there is little likelihood of any real U.N. moves until next week, at the earliest, after other Security Council members have time to study documents and suggest changes.

The developments came as President Clinton, in Europe for the 50th anniversary of D-day, sought to avoid escalating the dispute with Pyongyang, saying there “still is time for North Korea to change its course” and avoid imposition of sanctions. The United States is “not trying to provoke North Korea” and is only asking that country’s leaders to “do what they promised to do,” Clinton said in a television interview. “We want them to become a part of our world.”

The U.S.-South Korean-Japanese draft language came amid a flurry of meetings in New York, where diplomats from the three countries met to develop their strategy.

Madeleine Albright, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, met briefly with South Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo. Later, Albright conferred with envoys of key Security Council member states. Separately, the State Department said Peter Tarnoff, undersecretary for political-military affairs, will travel to Seoul and Tokyo on Wednesday to discuss political issues.

Although China has said it is too soon to consider imposing sanctions against North Korea, Washington is counting on Beijing to support--or at least not veto--a compromise proposal, particularly if it involves a two-stage plan.

Diplomats said the Chinese “did not tip their hand” in discussions with U.S. officials Monday but agreed with the “general objectives” of encouraging Pyongyang to cooperate fully with international inspectors.

But senior Chinese military officials quietly met with the North Koreans in Beijing in what some Western diplomats speculated may be an attempt by the Chinese to prod Pyongyang to go along with the thrust of the allies’ demands.

Both U.S. and foreign officials declined to provide details of the draft plan--particularly on how broad the initial round of sanctions might be. But they said it would involve more than the usual routine warning that such resolutions often provide.

The two sides have discussed limiting any initial round of sanctions to relatively mild measures in an effort to avoid provoking Pyongyang into withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Times staff writer Rone Tempest in Beijing contributed to this report.