US, Japan press for unity to punish North Korea

SEOUL: The United States and Japan vowed on Saturday to punish North Korea for its missile tests, refusing to budge for China and Russia which are fighting a push at the United Nations to impose new sanctions.

US envoy Christopher Hill, on a whirlwind tour in the wake of Pyongyang's missile tests, called for China to close ranks with Washington after receiving a lukewarm response in Beijing on Friday.

"We had very good discussions with the Chinese and made very clear our very deep concerns about what is going on in North Korea, and I called upon the Chinese to understand that we will be much more effective if we speak with one voice," Hill told reporters at the start of talks in Seoul, his second stop.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso was more blunt, pledging not to give in to Russia and China which hold veto power on the Security Council - a privilege Tokyo has long sought in vain.

"We may amend the draft but we are firm on the binding resolution that includes sanctions," Aso said in a speech in the western city of Osaka. "Japan will not compromise. We will go all the way."

"It is unreasonable if the moods of the veto powers dominate diplomacy," Aso said.

A UN draft resolution backed by Washington and Tokyo would block the transfer of items to the North that could be used in missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.

US President George W Bush, however, did not publicly pitch for sanctions in a press conference on Friday, calling only for unity to rebuke the North.