The Chinese-Russian draft UN resolution on North Korea’s missile tests last week has met with lukewarm response from Japan and the US. Though this draft is much softer than Japan’s the UN Security Council is still waiting for the result of the negotiations between China and North Korea. Japan on the other hand is pressing for a vote on its resolution. Japan’s chief spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Shinzo Abe said his country would not wait forever for the vote. The Japanese resolution backed by the US, Britain, France and five other members’ terms North Korea a threat to international peace and security. It invokes Chapter 7 of the UN charter. Resolutions passed under this Chapter are legally binding, allow for imposition of sanctions and even military action. The Chinese-Russian resolution instead emphasizes the need find a diplomatic solution to the standoff. Both the countries as well as South Korea believe punitive action is not necessary. Moreover, the Chinese ambassador to the UN, Mr Wang Guangya, has confirmed that he has been instructed to veto the rival resolution. Many analysts opine that the talks between China and North Korea are the best alternative to finding a solution to the impasse and getting Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear ambitions. This viewpoint is based on the theory that China is North Korea’s closest ally. South Korea also is attempting to persuade its communist neighbor in bilateral talks at the port city of Busan but has not much headway in breaking the deadlock. Both countries have decided to end the talks a day earlier than scheduled. According to Mr. Christopher Hill, US envoy, the China-North Korea talks had failed, adding that the Chinese were as dumbfounded as the rest of the world. The US envoy said the North Koreans rather than doing anything to resolve the situation were not interested in listening. The North Korean’s do not seem to have reciprocated the Chinese gesture of trying to work with its ally by sending a good delegation to Pyongyang On the fifth of this month, North Korea test- fired seven missiles including the long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which is believed to be capable of reaching Alaska. This left the international community deeply divided. Via: BBC