China and Russia on Wednesday introduced a U.N. Security Council draft resolution on North Korea's test firing of missiles last week that is less stringent than an earlier Japanese-written draft and, according to some other council members, does not include key elements which would make it a binding resolution. “We have jointly introduced a draft and accepted the format of a resolution,” Russian Ambassador Vitaly Cherkin told reporters as he emerged from the council meeting. “This resolution had some elements of the Chinese presidential statement, and it sends a good basis for a strong signal” to North Korea. But U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said that the Chinese-Russian resolution lacked any mention of Chapter Seven of the U.N. charter, did not cite any specific threats to peace and security, and used softer language to convey a message to North Korea. Chapter Seven of the U.N. charter addresses threats to international peace and security, and authorizes punitive measures, such as sanctions or even military action, when security is threatened. The new draft is significantly less specific and less stringent than last week's Japanese draft, which was backed by the United States, Britain, and France. The Chinese-Russian draft, obtained by S.P.A., “strongly urges the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) … to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.” In contrast, the Japanese text “decides that the DPRK shall immediately cease the development, testing, deployment, and proliferation of ballistic missiles.” Japan and the United States welcomed the introduction of the Chinese-Russian draft, but only as an indication that China's non-binding press statement, submitted to the council last Wednesday, was insufficient. “China proposed a press statement, then a presidential statement,” said Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima. “Today, they thought now to present a draft resolution,” he said. “Obviously it is a step in the right direction … [but] there are very serious gaps on very important issues.” Foreign ministers of the Security Council's permanent five (P5) members—the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia—plusGermany and the European Union met in Paris earlier Wednesday to discuss the Iranian nuclear question, and French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere told reporters in New York City that the question of North Korea's missile launches last week also would be discussed.
