US "has votes" for UN resolution against N Korea

WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) The United States believes it has the votes in the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea's nuclear missile program, a top US official today said.

''We think we've got the votes to pass that,'' US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said on NBC's ''Meet the Press'' television program.

Security Council members Russia and China have veto power and have opposed the resolution drafted by Japan. They could abstain, allowing the resolution to pass, but have so far not announced their intentions. A vote may come tomorrow.

China has suggested informal six-party talks to jump-start efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, a proposal that has received US support.

Burns, who appeared on several Sunday TV interview shows, said China was sending a senior level delegation to Pyongyang on Sunday evening. ''And it's time for China to exert its influence that it does have on North Korea,'' he said on ''Fox News Sunday.'' Burns said the United States did not have any assurances from China it would not use its veto.

''I don't think we've heard the last word from China. I'm not sure the Chinese have figured out exactly what they're going to do. It may depend on what the Chinese hear in Pyongyang from the North Korean leadership,'' he said.

The crisis erupted after North Korea test-fired seven missiles last week, despite widespread international pressure against such a move.

The UN resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, says that no nation may procure missiles or related ''items, materials goods and technology'' from North Korea, or transfer financial resources to the isolated Communist country's dangerous weapons programs.

''We need to find the means to deny North Korea the financial means to buy missile technology or nuclear technology,'' US envoy Christopher Hill told CNN in Seoul. ''We really want to make sure that we're not allowing North Korea to go around and pick up technology or to trade in these components.'' Burns cautioned that diplomacy could take longer.

''Diplomacy sometimes can't succeed in a day or two, or a week or two,'' he said. ''Sometimes it takes many months or even years to succeed.'' North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il said his country would not budge in negotiations with the United States, adding Pyongyang was ready to meet any attack with a strong blow of its own, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported today.

REUTERS SY RK2055