| Gee. Golly. Gosh. Wotta surprise. |
UN Security Council members Wednesday united in deploring North Korea's missile launches, but divisions emerged over how best to censure Pyonyang over its actions. At an emergency council meeting, Japan's UN ambassador Kenzo Oshima pushed for a swift and strongly worded resolution condemning the missile tests, while Russia and China urged a more cautious approach. "We hope that the response of the council will be swift, strong and resolute," Oshima, flanked by the US and British ambassadors, told reporters after the meeting.Oshima said Japan would present a draft resolution for expert-level consideration later in the day. Tokyo has slammed the North Korean launches and threatened "stern measures," including possible economic sanctions against Pyongyang.
While 13 of the 15 Security Council members spoke in favour of a resolution Wednesday, two permanent members, Russia and China, said they would prefer the council's reaction to take the form of a non-binding presidential statement. Warning against "whipping up emotions too much," Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the council should keep its focus on the resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. "I think we should be clear headed," said Churkin, who all but ruled out any possibility of a resolution that contained punitive measures against Pyongyang. "In the discussion today, I didn't hear the word 'sanctions,' and I frankly do not expect that anybody will be proposing any sanctions," he said.