US envoy 'discouraged' by N Korea

Mr Hill has been touring the region discussing the launches

US envoy Christopher Hill says he is discouraged by North Korea's response to diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis over its missile tests.

Mr Hill was speaking after talks with the Chinese foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, in Beijing.

"China's trying. We're trying. Everyone is trying, except the DPRK [North Korea]," Mr Hill told reporters.

South Korea is also attempting to negotiate with the North, at bilateral talks in the port city of Busan.

A spokesman for the South Korean delegation there warned that "the situation would get out of control if the North fired off more missiles", and he cautioned Pyongyang to make "wise judgments" to avert disaster.

But Seoul has also made clear that it is against the idea of punitive measures against the North in the wake of the missile launches - accusing Tokyo of "arrogance and outrageous rhetoric" in its attempts to push sanctions.

The spat between South Korea and Japan is symptomatic of a growing gap between the key nations involved in the crisis.

Tokyo has been resolute in pushing for sanctions - a stance supported by the US. But other nations - notably South Korea, China and Russia - oppose the idea.

Isolation

Many analysts believe that as the North's closest ally, China is best placed to persuade it not to repeat last week's missile launches, and return to stalled talks.

A high-level Chinese team is currently in Pyongyang to discuss the issue, and Mr Hill's decision to return to Beijing just a few days after holding talks there is an indication of the importance he places on China's role.

We continue to be guided by the need to make a strong united statement to the North Koreans US envoy Christopher Hill Who stands where on N Korea

But so far little progress has been made. "It is, frankly speaking, a little discouraging to see that the DPRK has not yet responded in a positive way," Mr Hill told reporters after meeting Mr Li.

"If they want international isolation, that is precisely what they are going to get," he said, and ruled out bilateral talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

Opposing views

On 5 July North Korea test-fired seven missiles - including a long-range Taepodong-2, a weapon which is believed to be capable of reaching Alaska.

In response, Japan drafted a resolution branding North Korea a "threat to international peace and security" and invoking Chapter Seven of the UN charter.

Delegates from the two Koreas have been discussing the launches

Resolutions made under Chapter Seven are legally binding and can authorise sanctions or even military action.

The US, UK and France back Tokyo's proposal - and Christopher Hill on Wednesday called it a "very good resolution".

But China said the Japanese plan was an "over-reaction" that would "increase tension".

Instead Beijing has proposed a non-binding statement condemning the tests, but stopping short of sanctions.

Russia and South Korea also oppose sanctions - and with both Russia and China holding the power of veto at the Security Council, the UN is currently deadlocked over the issue.

Nuclear discussions

The one thing all key nations agree on is the need for North Korea to rejoin stalled six-party talks on its nuclear ambitions - another aspect of the isolated regime that concerns the international community.

Discussions on the North's nuclear agenda came to a halt last November, with Pyongyang and Washington embroiled in a row over a US claim of North Korean money laundering.

On Wednesday Beijing urged Washington to resolve the dispute as soon as possible.

"It's affecting the progress of the six-party talks and we hope that it will be clarified and resolved as quickly as possible," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told Reuters news agency.

But Japan said that even an unconditional return to six-party negotiations would not be enough to avoid a Security Council vote on imposing sanctions.

"It is natural that North Korea will need to return to the six-party talks," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe.

"That alone would not mean that a vote would not take place."