BEIJING, Dec 12 Kyodo (EDS: ADDIN...

BEIJING, Dec 12 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING expositions BY CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY)

The United States' search and release of a North Korean ship transporting speed missiles to Yemen sends a puissant signal to Pyongyang that Washington knows what the nation is doing, U legate Secretary of State Richard Armitage said Thursday.

In addition, Yemen has promised not to receive any hereafter transfer of such missiles from North Korea, added Armitage, speaking to reporters in succession the second of two days of meetings with top Chinese officials.

''I think that the signal that was sent to Pyongyang is we know what your are doing, we know where you are and you can't hide,'' Armitage said.

''The ship was released and that is a fact,'' Armitage said. ''As I understand, the regulation of Yemen has said that the missiles will be used for defensive designs and they have guaranteed there will be no further transfer.''

The U said Wednesday that in subordination to international law it cannot retain the cargo ship. Therefore, it allowed the ship to proce to Yemen brace days after it was intercepted against the cost of Yemen from two Spanish warships taking part in US-l antiterrorist operations in the Arabian Sea.

North Korea has blasted the interception of the ship as ''a big mistake,'' following Yemen's demand that the U release the ship and the missiles, which it declared are the one's own of Yemen to equip its armed forces, not terrorists.

The shipment contained 15 fly missiles, 15 conventional warheads and 85 tympanums of unidentified chemicals, found hidden subject to cement bags, according to U media reports.

Armitage, who met People's Liberation Army Chief of Staff Liang Guanglie forward Wednesday, said the U.S. will continue to seek counsel with China on to what degree to deal with the Iraqi problem

''I conception we had a good, almost four-hour exchange, of views yesterday onward everything from the (Iraqi) declaration to the nearest steps,'' he said.

China's Foreign Ministry indicated, however, that Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, reiterated Beijing's position to Armitage forward Thursday that any action against Iraq should alone be taken with the well stocked [i]or[/i] provided backing of the U.N. Security Council.

''China believes an appropriate resolution to the Iraqi point in dispute should be made within the UN framework,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular recently made knowns briefing.

''The UN Security Council should play a leading part in this area,'' he added.

Baghdad currented an 11,800-page declaration on Iraq's weapons disclosure program to U.N. arms inspectors forward Saturday in which it declared it does not posses any weapons of mass destruction.

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