China introduced a draft UN Security Council presidential statement Monday on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for the concerned parties to work together on the early resumption of the six-party talks on Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

 

The draft statement, which does not carry the weight of a resolution, deplored the missile launches on July 5 by North Korea.

 

The draft statement urged North Korea as well as other countries in the region "to show restraint and refrain from any action that might aggravate tension, and continue to work on the resolution of non-proliferation concern through political and diplomatic efforts."

 

The draft statement called upon "all the six parties to work together on the early resumption of the six-party talks and intensify their efforts on the full implementation" of the September 19, 2005 Statement adopted in Beijing at the end of the fourth round of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

 

The six parties are North and South Korea, China, the United States, Russia and Japan.

 

The draft statement also urged North Korea "to cease the development, testing, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles and return to its moratorium on missile launching."

 

The draft statement called upon member states to prevent the transfer of missiles, missiles-related materials and financing resources to "end users involved in or supplying to North Korea's missile and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs."

 

Speaking to reporters after a Security Council consultation over North Korea missile launch, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya said the statement "provides the best framework, format and also in terms of substance for the action that the Security Council could take under the circumstances."

 

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, expressing support for the draft statement, said: "Our concern is the unity of the Security Council."

 

"We need to continue our diplomatic activity not only in Pyongyang, but also in New York," he said.

 

"I think the proper response is a strong presidential statement," Churkin added.

 

The UN Security Council agreed Monday to put off a vote on a draft resolution that would slap sanctions on North Korea over its recent missile tests.

 

Japan formally presented the draft resolution on Friday, seeking sanctions against North Korea. The draft, cosponsored by Britain, France and the US, invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes sanctions or even military action.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2006)