US envoy on N Korea says going back to China

Tokyo, Jul 11: The top US envoy on North Korea, Christopher Hill, said he would return to Beijing later today for talks with Chinese officials to find out how their negotiations with Pyongyang were progressing.

The UN Security Council decided yesterday not to vote on a resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea for firing missiles last week after Council members agreed to allow time for China's diplomatic efforts.

''China has a diplomatic mission currently in the field ...we'll see how the Chinese do,'' Hill told reporters in Tokyo where he had talks with Japanese officials yesterday.

A Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, began a six-day visit to North Korea yesterday.

''So I'll go to Beijing and hope to get a first-hand view on how China sees their efforts right now,'' added Hill, who said he would leave Tokyo for Beijing in the late morning.

Following North Korea's missile launches last Wednesday, Hill began a tour of the region in China on Friday and then held two-days of talks in Seoul before coming to Tokyo on Sunday.

REUTERS