JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI SAID ON FRIDAY THAT HE WANTED A VOTE ON A UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION ON NORTH KOREA BEFORE THE JULY 15-17 G8 SUMMIT IN ST PETERSBURG, REUTERS REPORTED. JAPAN HAS DRAFTED A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA FOR ITS MISSILE TESTS LAST WEEK. AN ALTERNATIVE CHINESE-RUSSIAN TEXT CALLS ON U.N. MEMBERS TO EXERCISE VIGILANCE RATHER THAN INSISTING THEY PREVENT THE SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO NORTH KOREA'S MISSILE PROGRAMME. IT WAS UNCLEAR, HOWEVER, WHETHER JAPAN AND ITS CLOSE SECURITY ALLY, THE UNITED STATES, WERE SET FOR A SHOWDOWN OR A COMPROMISE WITH BEIJING AND MOSCOW OVER THE MISSILE LAUNCHES, WHICH IN A WEEK HAVE SPLIT REGIONAL POWERS OVER HOW TO RESPOND. KOIZUMI IS IN JORDAN ON THE LAST LEG OF A MIDDLE EAST TOUR.
