China says need "balanced" U.N. resolution on N.Korea

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's foreign minister on Sunday called for a strong U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea after its latest nuclear test, but his Chinese counterpart said a "balanced" resolution must be adopted.

Japan's Hirofumi Nakasone and China's Yang Jiechi met in Tokyo amid rising tension after North Korea fired a long-range rocket over Japan in April followed by a nuclear test in May.

U.N. diplomats in New York have been in closed-door negotiations for over a week, but the five permanent Security Council members -- including China -- and Japan had yet to produce a deal on the sanctions resolution against North Korea.

"The Security Council must adopt a resolution with a strong content that will make North Korea understand that a nuclear test is not acceptable," a Japanese foreign ministry official quoted Nakasone as telling Yang.

Yang told Nakasone: "China agrees for an appropriate and balanced Security Council resolution to be passed as swiftly as possible," the Japanese foreign ministry official said.

The Security Council is debating to adopt a resolution that would broaden sanctions imposed on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. One diplomat has said the latest draft resolution called for a "moderate" tightening of the sanctions.

Traditionally, China and Russia have been reluctant to back sanctions, but the two permanent members of the Security Council have said they want a "convincing response" to North Korea's nuclear test from the Security Council.

Beijing, fearing destabilisation of the region and a flood of refugees from the North if order breaks down, may not be so forceful.

One sensitive issue facing the council is the inspection of cargo going in and out of the North, and China was unhappy about language in a draft resolution calling for inspection of vessels with North Korean cargo that might constitute a violation of a partial trade and arms embargo against Pyongyang, diplomats said.