apan wants UN Council vote on N Korea tomorrow

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Reuters) Japan is pushing for a U.N. Security Council vote tomorrow on sanctions against North Korea's missile program, despite opposition from veto-wielding members China and Russia.

Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, who formally introduced his draft resolution, said today he had asked for a vote tomorrow ''if possible'' in response to the barrage of missile tests North Korea, which fell into waters near Japan.

But no time has been set and France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said it could take place in the afternoon or later.

Oshima told reporters intensive talks had been conducted since Wednesday and it was time for the Security Council to act ''firmly, robustly and speedily.'' Asked if he would use his veto power, China's U.N.

Ambassador Wang Guangya said it was possible.

''If this resolution is put to a vote, definitely there would be no unity in the Security Council,'' said Wang, who could also let the resolution pass by abstaining.

''We believe that any action by the Security Council, if we are going to take one, should be conducive to the diplomatic effort that is now under way,'' Wang said, referring to a planned visit by China's Vice Premier Hui Liangyu to Pyongyang next week.

''For my delegation and for a number of others, the best way to achieve that is a PRST (presidential statement) with strong messages,'' Wang added.

A presidential Security Council statement carries less weight, and does not impose any penalties.

A new version of Japan's draft resolution rewords bans on the transfer of financial resources and materials that would help North Korea's missile programs.

Oshima, told reporters that for Tokyo the sanctions under the legally-binding provisions of Chapter 7 of the U.N.

Charters were crucial.

U.S. BACKS JAPAN U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, who is sponsoring the resolution along with Britain and France, agreed. ''We think it is important the response be in the form of a binding resolution under Chapter 7 because (North Korea) is a threat of international peace and security,'' he said.

North Korea launched at least six missiles early on Wednesday and fired off a seventh some 12 hours later.

The missiles included a long-range Taepodong-2, which some experts had said could hit Alaska. U.S. officials said it flew for less than a minute and fell into the sea west of Japan.

In addition to the sanctions, the Japanese draft condemns the missile launches and says North Korea should ''immediately cease the development, testing, deploying and proliferation of ballistic missiles.'' It also describes North Korea as a ''leading proliferator of ballistic missiles and related technology.'' US President George W. Bush thursday said he telephoned Presidents Hu Jintao of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia asking them to back him with a tough response to the missile tests.

But Putin warned against ''an emotional reaction'' that would jeopardize the now-stalled six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program. The six nations are Russia, China, the United States, Japan, South Korea and North Korea.

The last time North Korea fired a missile in 1998, the Security Council ended up, at China's insistence, issuing an press statement that did not chastise Pyongyang or lead to sanctions. A press statement has no official standing as compared to one the council adopts.

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