Goldberg likely to focus on consultations with China: officials

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. official appointed to oversee enforcement of
North Korea sanctions is expected to focus on consulting with Chinese officials
during his upcoming Asia trip, diplomats here said Tuesday.
They added he and his delegation are not likely to visit Seoul or Tokyo this time.
The U.S. State Department said an inter-agency team of U.S. officials, led by
Philip S. Goldberg, will soon travel to Asia to discuss ways to implement U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1874 aimed at punishing Pyongyang for its nuclear
test. Beijing will be the delegation's first stop, though a detailed itinerary
has yet to be fixed, department spokesman Ian Kelly told a press briefing.
"Amb. Goldberg has no plan to visit South Korea," a foreign ministry official
said. "South Korea and the U.S. are already in close consultations."
Goldberg, who recently served as ambassador to Bolivia, was named to handle
Washington's internal and international coordination for the implementation of
Resolution 1874, which authorizes all U.N. member states to tighten measures to
curb the North's arms trade and illicit financial transactions.
Many agree that China, the main food and energy provider for North Korea, is the
most important player in implementing the resolution.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)