Japan PM wants vote on UN resolution before summit

AQABA, Jordan, July 14 (Reuters) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi today said that Japan wants a UN resolution on North Korea's missile tests to be voted on before the Group of Eight nations summit begins in Russia tomorrow.

Japan has drafted a resolution that would impose sanctions on North Korea for its missile tests last week.

An alternative Chinese-Russian text calls on UN members to exercise vigilance rather than insisting they prevent the supply of materials and technologies that could contribute to North Korea's missile programme.

It also strongly deplores the multiple missile launches by North Korea and urges, rather than demands, that Pyongyang institute a moratorium.

Koizumi, speaking to reporters in the Jordanian resort of Aqaba on the last leg of a Middle East trip, said that there was no change in Japan's stance.

Asked if he wanted to see a vote on the resolution before the G8 summit begins in St Petersburg from tomorrow, he said, ''Yes.

''There is currently various diplomacy going on,'' he added, noting that he expected the issue to be of ''very high interest'' at the annual gathering of leaders from industrialised nations.

REGIONAL FAULT-LINES Differing responses to North Korea's salvo of missile tests last week have exposed regional fault-lines and sparked harsh criticism of Japan by Beijing and Seoul.

Tokyo's ties with both countries are hit by bitter memories of Japanese wartime aggression, while Sino-Japanese relations are also strained by rivalry for regional dominance.

But with a possible diplomatic defeat looming for Japan if it is too rigid, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said it was common sense that Japan seek compromise with the Chinese-Russian text.

That text excludes a determination included in the Japanese version that North Korea's actions threatened international peace and security under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

This provision makes a resolution mandatory and can be a step to military action, but only if another resolution is adopted.

Japanese and US diplomats at the United Nations said consultations were still going on with Russia and China, but Aso reiterated that Tokyo wanted the matter resolved today.

If no agreement is reached, the 15-member council could face a split. China, one of the five permanent members with veto power, reaffirmed tomorrow it would vote against the Japan-led resolution.

China appears to have had little success so far in its efforts to persuade Pyongyang to revive its moratorium on missile launches and return to six-country talks on its nuclear programmes. Those talks have been stalled since late last year.

REUTERS PKS PM1634