UNSC unlikely to reach conclusion on N. Korea within this week: Aso+

TOKYO, April 9 Kyodo -
The U.N. Security Council is unlikely to reach a conclusion by the end of this
week on how to respond to North Korea's rocket launch, Japanese Prime Minister
Taro Aso said Thursday.
He also said Japan's position is to seek a new binding UNSC resolution, not a
nonbinding presidential statement.
''It will be discussed from now on about how to achieve results, and it will
take some time,'' Aso said at the Japan National Press Club. ''It will be quite
difficult to see a settlement within this week.''
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura separately said Japan's stance of
seeking a new UNSC resolution in response to the North's rocket launch on
Sunday is unchanged.
The remark by the Japanese government's top spokesman indicates a shift from
what he suggested the previous day -- that Japan may compromise and accept a
nonbinding presidential statement rather than a binding U.N. resolution if the
Security Council cannot reach an agreement.
''Japan's position to make utmost efforts to seek a new resolution has not
changed,'' Kawamura said at a news conference, adding it is necessary for the
United Nations and the global community to send a united message.
Kawamura said the Japanese government is calling on other countries to achieve
Japan's hope to adopt a U.N. resolution through such means as bilateral
telephone talks by foreign ministers.
==Kyodo
2009-04-09 21:50:09