China nixes taking nuclear program to U.N.

BEIJING, March 29 (UPI) -- China won't budge on its opposition to taking the issue of North Korea's nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council, Beijing said.

North Korea's uranium-based program was a key topic of conversation when the foreign ministers of South Korea and China met Tuesday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

But there was no change in China's position, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry said.

China opposes putting the matter before the U.N. and said it must be dealt with in six-party talks involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

South Korea wants the Security Council to define the illicit nature of the uranium-enrichment program before reopening the six-party talks.

A definition would prevent Pyongyang from claiming that its program is for peaceful purposes.

Currently Beijing is North Korea's last remaining major ally.