China has urged North Korea to accept the return of international nuclear inspectors, as a step toward defusing tensions on the Korean peninsula. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu today said China believes North Korea must let international inspectors see its nuclear facilities. Jiang said North Korea has a right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but also must accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. She said the issue must be resolved through the six-party talks, which bring together the United States, China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia. The spokeswoman said China is waiting for what she called a positive reaction to its call for an emergency round of talks to resolve the latest tensions on the Korean peninsula. Jiang's comments came as the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, said North Korea promised to allow IAEA inspectors to ensure it is not processing highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.