UNITED NATIONS, 13 October 2006 — China and Russia yesterday cast doubt on the chances of a quick vote on a US-drafted resolution imposing economic and weapons sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons test.

“I think that of course people are talking about a possible vote tomorrow, but I’m not sure,” China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said. “There are many common grounds that members agree. But there are some disagreements.”

US Ambassador John Bolton formally introduced the new draft resolution to UN Security Council in hopes of securing a vote today but said he was open to further discussion and changes.

But the measure still retained some elements that China has objected to.

Asked about a vote today, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said, “I don’t think so” and indicated one should wait for results of the latest flurry of diplomatic activity.

“We think there should be a strong reaction but a cool-headed reaction,” Churkin said. He pointed to diplomatic meetings in Asia and in the United States and Russia. Tang Jiaxuan, a Chinese state councilor and former foreign minister, met President George W. Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House and then was traveling on to Moscow.

China has used forceful language to condemn North Korea since it announced it had conducted a nuclear weapons test on Monday, a change of tack toward Pyongyang. Wang said again yesterday that Pyongyang’s action was “irresponsible.”

Beijing has agreed to punitive measures against its Communist ally. But it says encouraging a peaceful resolution, not punishment, should be the focus The new US-drafted resolution changes few provisions China opposed earlier, possibly delaying the UN timetable for a vote unless it is revised.

One measure China rejects is authorization for international inspections of cargo moving in and out of North Korea to detect weapons-related material.

Another dispute is enforcement of the resolution. The United States, Japan, Britain and France want the measure adopted under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows for sanctions and even military force — if the council authorizes a specific action.

But Wang wants to invoke Article 41 of Chapter 7, thereby removing any inference of force. Article 41 allows economic sanctions as well as a “complete or partial interruption” of sea and air traffic and a rupture of diplomatic relations.