Foreign Affairs Ministers from China, Zhang Yesui, Germany, Franck Walter Steinmeier, Russia, Serguei Lavrov, France, Philippe Douste Blazy, US Secretary of State Condelezza Rice, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Margaret Rice and Javier Solana (L to R) speak with journalist after a meeting in Paris, July 12, 2006. [Reuters]

China Wednesday criticized Japan for its remarks that it is considering a pre-emptive strike against missile bases in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying such a threat is "extremely irresponsible and incomprehensible."

"As the international community is going all out to seek a peaceful and diplomatic solution (to the DPRK missile crisis), some Japanese politicians are talking about a pre-emptive strike. This is like pouring oil on fire," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement yesterday.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said on Monday night that "if we accept that there is no other option to prevent an attack ... there is the view that attacking the launch base of the guided missiles (in the DPRK) is within the constitutional right of self-defence."

Jiang said such a comment would severely disrupt international diplomatic efforts and raise tension in Northeast Asia.

"It goes against the will of people around the world," she said.

Pyongyang test-fired seven missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 potentially capable of hitting the United States, last week. The weapons, which landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, created a major new challenge to international efforts to make the Korean Peninsular nuclear-free.

China, Russia Introduce New Resolution

China and Russia introduced a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would urge North Korea to suspend its nuclear program but avoid mandatory weapons-related sanctions as sought by Japan.

Japan, backed by the United States, Britain and France welcomed the new draft and said it moved closer to their position but fell short.

No vote has been scheduled on either draft.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said he would veto the Japanese proposal. "If that draft is put to a vote, without any modifications, the instructions to me is to veto it," he told reporters, the first time he has announced such plans.

China's delegation has told North Koreans what they should do to ensure diplomacy succeeded, Wang Guangya said. "So far we have not received any feedback from the North Korea leadership," Wang told reporters.

Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima welcomed the Chinese-Russian initiative but said "a quick glance shows that there are very serious gaps on very important issues."

"But I doubt very much whether it will be a text that will meet the support of the co-sponsors," Oshima said. "I think it will be difficult for us to accept that as it is."

The Chinese-Russia text "strongly deplores" the multiple missile launches by North Korea and urges that Pyongang to re-establish a moratorium.

It also softens the sanctions provision by calling on UN members to "exercise vigilance," rather than insisting that they prevent the supply of materials, goods and technologies that could contribute to North Korea's missile program.

It also excludes a determination in the Japanese draft 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 followed legally by military action, but only if another resolution is adopted.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the Russian-Chinese draft resolution went "a long way" toward meeting concerns of those who back the Japanese resolution.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized Japan as saying "that all countries have to vote as Japan wants," Interfax news agency reported. "I think this is absolutely unacceptable."

A Chinese delegation is currently visiting Pyongyang, with Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Beijing's nuclear envoy, holding meetings with DPRK officials.

The delegation of senior Chinese officials remains in Pyongyang until Friday holding talks on the international standoff. It is seeking to end missile launches from North Korea and draw the country back to six-party disarmament talks.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who is in Beijing to discuss with Chinese officials the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula, Wednesday hailed China's efforts to try and resume multi-lateral talks amid tension over the missile tests.

He said he had "very good" discussions with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

"It is clear to me that China is working very hard and taking its responsibilities very, very seriously," said Hill, also the chief US nuclear envoy.

But he added that the DPRK has shown no sign of responding to the efforts aimed at persuading it to stop missile launches and return to the Six-Party Talks on nuclear disarmament. 

The six-party talks between the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States have been stalled since November because Pyongyang objected to US financial sanctions based on accusations it had counterfeited US currency and trafficked drugs.

In the latest sign of strains over North Korea, Beijing Wednesday urged Washington to resolve its dispute with Pyongyang over the financial sanctions.

"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 reporters.