UNITED NATIONS, July 10: The UN Security Council on Monday put off a vote on a draft resolution that would slap sanctions on North Korea over its missile tests, to allow more time for Chinese diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States had agreed with a Japanese proposal to postpone a vote on the Japanese draft, pending the results of the Chinese initiative to the Stalinist state.

“The Japanese have agreed that it would be wise to allow China some time to have the diplomatic mission that China has launched to North Korea to take effect,” Rice told reporters.

A top Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Hui Liangyu arrived in North Korea Monday amid hopes the six-day visit will ease rising tensions over last week’s missile tests.

Rice said that the Chinese mission showed “some promise” and that Washington wanted to give it time to play out.

Kyodo News agency also quoted Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe as saying Tokyo and Washington had agreed to postpone the UN vote “for several days.”

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Japan would not insist that a vote be held Monday, to allow more time for Chinese-led diplomatic efforts.

At the United Nations, US Ambassador John Bolton said co-sponsors of the draft met on Monday morning and agreed not to press for a vote Monday.

“We suspend here while diplomacy in Pyongyang proceeds,” he added. “Delay won’t be infinite. We’re going to look at it on a daily basis.”

Mr Bolton said that he and his Japanese counterpart Kenzo Oshima would brief the full council on the latest developments. The Japanese text, co-sponsored by the US and all other Western members of the council, would block the transfer of items to North Korea that could be used in missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.—AFP