BEIJING, June 11 (RIA Novosti) - China worked to create a balanced UN Security Council resolution on North Korea after its recent nuclear test, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday.
A draft resolution was submitted to the Security Council on Wednesday after extensive discussion between the five permanent members - Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain - as well as Japan and South Korea, lead to agreement on a six-page text.
"China pushed for the resolution to be appropriate and balanced, serving the interests of stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," Qin said in Beijing.
He added that China was actively taking part in discussions on the draft resolution, which is expected to be approved by the full council this week.
North Korea carried out a nuclear test on May 25, a move condemned on the same day by the Security Council, which decided to urgently formulate a relevant resolution.
China is the North's main ally and has always urged caution in dealings with Pyongyang, partly out of concern that if the regime were to collapse, millions of refugees could flee over the border into China.
The measures proposed include inspection of North Korean vessels in open sea, although that would not be compulsory.
Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday the draft resolution ruled out the use of force and left the door open to resuming negotiations and contained the possibility of revoking the sanctions.
The countries have condemned the test as a violation of Resolution 1718 and the international non-proliferation treaty. The impoverished country is already under a number of UN sanctions over its first nuclear test, carried out in 2006.
The reclusive communist state has carried out a series of short-range missile launches in recent weeks, as well as a nuclear test, and has threatened steps to build up its deterrence potential to counter what it calls hostile U.S. actions.
South Korean media reported earlier this month that the North was planning to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, in defiance of a UN ban. Russian sources have also said a ballistic test is likely to take place.
