Russia, China raise concern on N.Korea resolution

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters)

Russia and China raised last-minute concerns on Friday about a U.N. Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea, but the United States remains hopeful the council will vote on Saturday.

The Security Council had been due to meet at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) to vote on the resolution to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear test on Monday. That has been rescheduled until later in the day after U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Russia raised “technical problems” on banned weapons.

“We will work tonight on the technical question of what’s covered by and how we define nuclear, biological and chemical weapon-related materials and ballistic missiles,” Bolton said after a meeting of the permanent five council members — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — and Japan.

Chinese U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters after the meeting that Beijing still had “difficulties” about a provision authorizing nations to search cargo going to and from North Korea for nuclear materials or ballistic missiles. China wants that provision softened that any interdiction would not be mandatory.