Russia spurns weapons hunt plan

Russia's ambassador to Australia and former North Korean trade negotiator Leonid Moiseev said Russia could not involve itself in the PSI.

'I can say very frankly that it would be a very difficult for us to join the initiative,' he said. 'The basic difference (between us and the member countries) is both China and Russia have a common border with North Korea ... We are immediate neighbours and Russia and China have big Korean communities within our borders.

'Both Russia and China have a lot to lose.'

Six-way Beijing-sponsored diplomatic talks were the only way to resolve the nuclear stand-off, he said.

The crisis follows North Korea admitting in October last year that it had a nuclear program.

A source close to the PSI said last night the 50 new nations would not join the PSI but could be co-opted if a rogue ship or aircraft entered their waters or airspace.

The Australian really should have headed this piece: 'The usual drivel'.

Let's unpack the last paragraph:

A source close to the PSI

A PR guy for one of the PSI governments said last night

the 50 new nations would not join the PSI

too busy joining the Coalition of the Willing

but could be co-opted

We'll announce their consent without talking to them the way we did with the CoW

if a rogue ship or aircraft entered their waters or airspace

the PSI will ignore the UN Charter and international law

Proliferation is a major problem. President Bush recognised that in his recent speech. The PSI nations, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States can do something about it right away.

All of those nations export arms. They can stop. After proving their sincerity in that way, they can take the PSI to the Security Council and seek legal authority for their wildcat operation.