US threatens North Korea with ruinous economic stranglehold

The Bush administration is preparing to enforce an economic and political stranglehold on North Korea after deciding against an immediate military response to the nuclear weap-ons crisis. Washington is also seeking to open back-channel discussions with Pyongyang.

Under the plan, America could seek economic sanctions through the UN, which could bring the impoverished Communist country to its knees, and the US military could intercept North Korean missile shipments to other countries. North Korea's neighbours could be pressed to cut economic ties.

"It is called tailored containment," an American official told The New York Times. "It's a lot about putting political stress and putting economic stress [on North Korea]. It also requires maximum multinational co-operation."

Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, said yesterday that Washington was "looking for ways to communicate with the North Koreans" to try to defuse the crisis, caused by Pyongyang's decision last week to throw out UN inspectors monitoring its Yongbyon nuclear site. But he coupled the warning of sanctions with the prospect of talks. "We have channels open," he said. "They know how to contact us. We are not planning a pre-emptive strike."

North Korea has provoked international concern by de-claring its intention to reactivate nuclear reactors that some analysts say could produce weapons within months.