Important to restart 6-party N.Korea talks-US Hill

TOKYO, July 10 (Reuters) The US envoy to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes said today it was very important to get the talks going again.

The Bush administration on Sunday said it had the votes in the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear missile program and urged China to use its influence to get Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christoper Hill, in Tokyo to meet with Japanese officials, told reporters: ''I think what is very important is that we get the six-party process going.

''I think what's also important is we not allow any one country to veto that process.'' Hill is travelling in Asia to meet the six-party players apart from Pyongyang to come up with a unified voice in response to North Korea's firing of seven missiles last Wednesday.

China, which opposes the Security Council resolution drafted by Japan, has instead suggested informal six-party talks to jump-start efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme, a proposal that has received U.S. support.

A vote on the resolution could come on Monday. However, Russia and China -- both Security Council members with veto power -- oppose it.

They could abstain and allow the resolution to pass, but China has said the lack of unanimity would send a weak signal.

Hill avoided comment when asked about the resolution, saying only that he was in Japan to consult with the Japanese government and not taking part in the New York negotiations.

''We need to work together. We need to speak with one voice,'' he said.

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 yesterday.

Hill said it was important to get the stalled talks -- in which Russia, China, and Japan take part along with the United States and the two Koreas -- going again.

''There's a lot to do to get ready for the next round, should the North Koreans choose to participate. But we have held up these discussions for some nine months, and we think it's time to move on,'' he added.

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