Rice doubts North Korea pledge

Moscow: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cast doubt on a reported apology by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for carrying out a nuclear test and his pledge not to carry out additional tests.

Speaking to journalists on a flight from Beijing to Moscow on Saturday Rice said, "I don't know whether or not Kim Jong-il said any such thing."

She added, "But the Chinese, in a fairly thorough briefing about the talks, said nothing about such an apology for having launched a test."

Kim Jong-il allegedly told a delegation from his main ally China that no more atom bomb tests were planned. A South Korean paper reported that Kim had apologised for the first test.

Rice was reportedly frustrated over continuous questions about the report, which dominated her tour of Asia aimed at rallying support for strong UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

She accused North Korea of seeking to "escalate" the crisis.

Rice also pressed for a reduction in tensions between Russia and Georgia and said provocative actions in two separatist Georgian regions could get out of control.