U.S. Presses China on N. Korea Sanctions

WASHINGTON - The U.S. on Sunday pressed China to enforce the U.N. punishment against North Korea and use economic leverage to persuade the communist ally to renounce its nuclear weapons program and rejoin international disarmament talks.

The chief U.S. diplomat readied for talks in Asia, aware of concerns that the Security Council's resolution might enflame tensions among countries already on edge from North Korea's claimed nuclear test Oct. 9.

Already, sharp divisions have arisen over enforcing the resolution, approved unanimously on Saturday. China, which voted for the penalties, is balking at cargo inspections to prevent trafficking of certain banned weapons and …