UNITED STATES ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE CHRISTOPHER HILL ARRIVED IN TOKYO SUNDAY FOR TALKS WITH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ON NORTH KOREA'S RECENT MISSILE TEST-FIRES, DPA REPORTED. HILL, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR IN THE SIX-NATION TALKS ON NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME, IS SCHEDULED TO MEET MONDAY WITH JAPAN'S NEGOTIATOR TO THE TALKS KENICHIRO SASAE AND JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER TARO ASO. THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ON FRIDAY WHICH PROPOSES SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA. NO DATE HAS BEEN SET TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY THE US, JAPAN, FRANCE AND BRITAIN. CHINA AND RUSSIA, WHICH BOTH HOLD POWERS OF VETO ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL ARE OPPOSED TO SANCTIONS. CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER LI ZHAOXING AND HIS JAPANESE COUNTERPART ASO CONFIRMED IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION SUNDAY THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES WOULD CONSULT FURTHER ON THE ISSUE OF A SECURITY COUNCIL RESPONSE TO NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE LAUNCHES. HILL ARRIVED IN TOKYO FROM SEOUL WHERE HE HELD TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS ON THE MATTER.
