China and the United States seemed set for a stand-off on Thursday over North Korea after Beijing signalled it would take a softer line on sanctions against the North for testing an atom bomb. The US said that, despite China and Russia’s resistance, it would push for a UN Security Council vote on Friday on a draft resolution mandating tough sanctions against North Korea. China said it wanted to resolve the crisis peacefully rather than aim for exacting revenge. “Punishment is not the goal,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. “As to what measures to take, I think the measures themselves are not punitive action.”Liu’s comments appeared to take an easier line than Beijing took earlier in the week. The US had said it was “talking about really making it hurt” when it came to Council sanctions. China’s spokesman underlined Beijing’s wish not to push Pyongyang too far. Liu said the international community had to “maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula”, although the test could not be accepted.