US's Rice says China trip to NKorea has "promise"

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) The United States believes a Chinese delegation visiting North Korea days after its missile tests defied international opinion has the potential to persuade Pyongyang to resume talks over its nuclear programs.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said that, because of the hopes for the the mission, Washington backed Japan's decision to delay pushing for a U.N. resolution, possibly including sanctions, condemning North Korea.

''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 during a photo opportunity with Pakistan's foreign minister.

She called Beijing's influence over its poor Communistneighbor ''considerable'' and said the United States wanted ''to see if the North Koreans can be convinced by the Chinese that it is indeed time to resume the six-party talks.'' North Korea, which says it has nuclear weapons, has refused for months to reenter negotiations with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia over dismantling its atomic programs.

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu's ''friendship delegation'' arrived in Pyongyang earlier on Monday for a six-day visit announced before North Korea last week test-fired missiles. He immediately stressed traditional ties between the two nations without obviously pressuring his hosts over the tests.

Reuters SY DB2304