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N.Korean Envoy: Pressure Could Trigger War HANS GREIMEL / AP | July 9 2006 TOKYO -- A top U.S. envoy arrived Sunday in Tokyo to rally a united international front against North Korea's recent missile tests, but cracks were already appearing over a Japanese proposal for sanctions against the communist state. The visit comes ahead of a pivotal U.N. Security Council showdown over the stern wording of the proposed resolution, which Japan vowed Sunday not to temper -- despite resistance to sanctions from China and apparent wavering by South Korea. Amid the diplomatic wrangling, North Korea repeated threats that attempts to rein in its military exercises could spark a war. In Washington, a top U.S. diplomat said Sunday the Bush administration would resist one-on-one talks with North Korea and insist that other nations in the region participate in any negotiations over its nuclear weapons and missile programs. "The goal of the current diplomacy should be to use the combined leverage of China and Russia, of South Korea, Japan and the United States to force the North Koreans back to the negotiating table," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said. "We really don't see the logic of turning this into a test of wills between two countries -- the United States and North Korea," Burns told NBC's "Meet the Press." Six-party talks over Pyongyang's nuclear agenda have been stalled since September. China and Russia, traditional allies of the North, are veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council. Both have voiced opposition to Japan's resolution, which would impose sanctions and order the communist regime to stop developing ballistic missiles. Japan hopes to put the resolution to a vote Monday. But U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the major players are presenting a unified message to Pyongyang, which triggered an international furor by test-firing seven missiles into the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. At least one missile was believed to be capable of striking U.S. shores. "I don't see any splintering. On the contrary, I see a very clear message," Hill said, arriving in Tokyo after visits to Seoul and Beijing. "All countries are showing resolve in the ways that they can." Yet Song Min-soon, South Korea's presidential security adviser, told The Associated Press that Seoul was not convinced sanctions would stop North Korea's missile efforts. "We first need to determine if such measures will be effective in preventing the North's missile proliferation," Song said, refusing to clarify whether Seoul supported or opposed the resolution. Seoul condemned the tests and suspended food and fertilizer aid to the North, but also called for "patient dialogue." It plans to go ahead with bilateral talks with Pyongyang this week. Japan, which sits within easy range of North Korean missiles, said Sunday it won't compromise on the U.N. resolution, which it submitted Friday to the Security Council. The proposal prohibits nations from procuring missiles or missile-related "items, materials goods and technology" from North Korea, or from transferring financial resources connected to the North's program. "To compromise because of one country which has veto power, even though most other countries support us, sends the wrong message," Aso told national broadcaster NHK. "We can't alter our stance." Aso said Russia could possibly abstain from voting on the resolution, leaving China to decide whether to be the sole country voicing opposition. Nine of 15 votes on the Security Council are needed for the resolution to pass, and Aso called a 14-1 vote the worst outcome for China. The United States, Britain and France have expressed support for the resolution. "China will be backed into a corner," Aso said later on a TV Asahi talk show. "It's only common sense not to do that." Meanwhile, North Korea's ambassador to Australia warned in a newspaper article that international attempts to halt his nation's missile tests could trigger war. Ambassador Chon Jae Hong, writing in Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun, defended Pyongyang's missile launches as routine military drills. "It is a lesson taught by history and a stark reality of international relations, proven by the Iraqi crisis, that the upsetting of the balance of force is bound to create instability and spark even a war," Chon said. North Korea "will have no option but to take stronger physical actions of other forms, should any country dare take issue with the exercises and put pressure upon it," he added. Supporters of the Japan-backed U.N. resolution decided at a meeting Friday not to call for a vote over the weekend after some council members asked for more time to deliberate. The draft is tougher than previous versions, and Aso said it was crucial to get a binding resolution passed this time. A previous missile test by North Korea in 1998 was only followed by a nonbinding U.N. censure, and the isolated communist country has used the intervening years to improve its missile technology, Aso said. "We have to learn from the past," he said. ---------------------------------------------------
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