'N Korea return to talks won't stop UN vote'

Tokyo, Jul 12: Japan's top government spokesman today said that an unconditional return by North Korea to six-party talks on its nuclear programme would not be enough to avoid a UN Security Council vote to impose sanctions on Pyongyang for firing missiles last week.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe also said Japan and the United States had not set a deadline for the UN vote, but added that they wanted the issue to be resolved as soon as possible.

''An unconditional return to the six-party talks is only natural. That alone would not mean that a vote would not take place,'' Abe told a news conference.

He declined to comment on ongoing talks between Chinese and North Korean officials.

''Japan and the United States have agreed not to set a deadline,'' Abe said.

''But on the other hand, but the issue must be resolved as soon as possible, and at some stage we will have to make a decision to vote on the resolution.'' Backers of the draft UN resolution yesterday put off the vote for another day while Chinese officials visit Pyongyang. Eight of the Security Council's 15 members sponsor the text and were due to meet on Wednesday to reassess the situation.

REUTERS

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