Japan formally introduced a UN resolution last night that would impose sanctions against North Korea's missile program, despite strong opposition from veto-wielding members China and Russia.
But ambassadors from Japan, France and the United States said no vote in the U.N. Security Council would be held until Monday at the earliest. Japan had pushed for a Saturday vote.
"Some delegations have asked the co-sponsors not to vote on Saturday or Sunday," said France's ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, the current council president. "It was decided that there would be no vote during the weekend."
British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said delegations needed to review their instructions over the weekend. He said there were no plans to change the text or to consult before Monday.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said if the draft was put to a vote "there would be no unity" in the council. But he did not say whether China would use its veto power to kill the resolution or abstain and let the measure go through.
"All possibilities are on the table," Mr Wang told reporters.
The draft resolution comes after North Korea launched at least six missiles early on Wednesday and fired off a seventh some 12 hours later.
The missiles included a long-range Taepodong-2, which some experts had said could hit Alaska. US officials said it flew for less than a minute and fell into the sea west of Japan.
Japan's revised draft, co-sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, says that no nation can procure missiles or missile related "items, materials goods and technology" from North Korea, or transfer financial resources to the isolated Communist country's dangerous weapons programs.
China has used its veto only four times in the Security Council, all on issues related to Taiwan. Analysts say Beijing does not want action that could risk bringing down the North Korean government and send millions of refugees across the border to China.
Instead Wang said he wanted a presidential statement with a "strong message." A Security Council statement carries less weight, and does not impose any penalties.
Oshima, told reporters that for Tokyo the sanctions under the legally-binding provisions of Chapter 7 of the UN Charters were crucial for a firm and robust response.
US Ambassador John Bolton, who is sponsoring the resolution along with Britain and France, agreed. "We think it is important the response be in the form of a binding resolution under Chapter 7 because (North Korea) is a threat of international peace and security," he said.
In addition to the sanctions, the Japanese draft condemns the missile launches and says North Korea should "immediately cease the development, testing, deploying and proliferation of ballistic missiles."
It also describes North Korea as a "leading proliferator of ballistic missiles and related technology."
US President George W. Bush on Thursday said he telephoned Presidents Hu Jintao of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia asking them to back him with a tough response to the missile tests. But there is no sign yet they agree.
The last time North Korea fired a missile in 1998, the Security Council ended up, at China's insistence, issuing an press statement that did not chastise Pyongyang or lead to sanctions.