China, supported by Russia, submitted its own draft U.N. Security Council
statement on North Korea on Monday, fearing a Japan-drafted resolution imposing
sanctions might be eventually used to lay the groundwork for military action on
Pyongyang.
However, the United States, Britain and Japan opposed China's statement as
the Security Council put off council action to allow a high-level Chinese
delegation to talk to Pyongyang, Reuters reported.
Beijing introduced its statement on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for
an early resumption of the six-party talks.
Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya
speaks after a meeting of the UN Security Council at the United Nations in
New York, July 10, 2006. [Reuters] |
The missile launches by the DPRK "caused negative implications to the
regional peace and stability," said the draft. The statement called on the DPRK
"to cease the development, testing, deployment and proliferation of ballistic
missiles and return to its moratorium on missile launching."
China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told reporters after another round of
council consultations the Japan-drafted resolution branding Pyongyang a threat
to international peace and security "could be used by member states to take
actions which could make the situation even worse."
Asked if he meant military action, Wang said, "certainly."
Wang earlier indicated he could support a "modified resolution" but he did
not elaborate, and instead produced the draft statement, which is not legally
binding.
Japan's resolution invokes Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which makes it
mandatory for all U.N. members and in certain circumstances lays the groundwork
for future military force.
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has kicked off a six-day visit to Pyongyang.
"The traditional friendship between China and North Korea has withstood the
tests of history and its tribulations," Hui said in a speech in Pyongyang,
according to Xinhua news agency.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped Beijing could
persuade North Korea to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear program,
which include North and South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.
The United States also wants Pyongyang to return to a moratorium on its
missile launches.
"We do think that the Chinese mission to North Korea has some promise and we
would like to let that play out," Rice told reporters in Washington.