LONDON Ñ North Korea has reaffirmed its pledge to continue a ban on tests of its long-range Taepo Dong missile.

The commitment was given during a meeting between North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Il and Chinese Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The two men met in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

Kim was said to have told the Chinese president that North Korea would not test the Taepo Dong until at least 2003. Both men were said to have expressed opposition to U.S. plans to construct a missile defense shield, the South Korean YTN television said on Wednesday.

Asian diplomatic sources said China has pressed North Korea to reaffirm its ban on the testing of long-range missiles. They said China has been holding back technology required for the development of the Taepo Dong.

Kim has held talks with Chinese and Russian leaders amid U.S. efforts to resume talks with Pyongyang. The sources said they expect the U.S.-N. Korean dialogue to be renewed over the next few months.

North Korea is regarded as the leading missile proliferator in the Middle East. Among its clients are Egypt, Iran, Libya and Syria.

Over the weekend, the United States imposed sanctions on a Chinese company for transferring missile components and technology to Pakistan. White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said Washington would launch later this month what he termed would be "intensive" discussions with China regarding the U.S. missile defense program.

"We will share with the Chinese the same briefing on our missile defense testing program that we have shared with our Asian and European allies and friends and with the Russians," Fleischer said.

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