Japanese Ambassador to the U.N. Tsuneo Nishida indicated Thursday substantive negotiations have yet to take place on how the Security Council should respond to last week's North Korean rocket launch.
Japan, the United States and South Korea on the one hand, and China on the other, "are far too divided" in their views to "sustain discussions," he told a news conference.
On the council's response to what council members believe was a missile launch banned under U.N. resolutions, the United States, working in concert with Japan and South Korea, is believed to be holding bilateral talks with China.
There is known to be a wide discrepancy in views between Washington, which is seeking tougher sanctions against Pyongyang, and Beijing, which is reluctant to take such action.
Nishida, meanwhile, indicated the protracted negotiations at the Security Council do not imply it will not be able to produce a strong message, saying the matter should be viewed from a comprehensive standpoint and not just whether or not a prompt decision can be made.