In an apparent compromise to China and Russia, Japan intends to draw up a U.N. draft resolution that condemns North Korea's July 5 missile test-launches but may not include strong measures such as sanctions, which Tokyo had earlier pushed, several government officials said Thursday.
"What is important is to adopt a binding resolution," a senior Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, suggesting Japan could back down from its position to push for a sanctions resolution, which it presented last week, in the face of opposition from China and Russia, North Korea's main allies.
Tokyo's compromise comes after China and Russia, two veto-wielding permanent U.N. Security Council members, presented an alternative draft U.N. resolution on Wednesday that includes no sanctions.