China and Russia introduced a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would urge North Korea to suspend its nuclear program but avoid mandatory weapons-related sanctions as sought by Japan.

Japan, backed by the United States, Britain and France welcomed the new draft and said it moved closer to their position but fell short.

No vote has been scheduled on either draft.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said he would veto the Japanese proposal. "If that draft is put to a vote, without any modifications, the instructions to me is to veto it," he told reporters, the first time he has announced such plans.

China's delegation has told North Koreans what they should do to ensure diplomacy succeeded, Wang Guangya said. "So far we have not received any feedback from the North Korea leadership," Wang told reporters.

Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima welcomed the Chinese-Russian initiative but said "a quick glance shows that there are very serious gaps on very important issues."

"But I doubt very much whether it will be a text that will meet the support of the co-sponsors," Oshima said. "I think it will be difficult for us to accept that as it is."

The Chinese-Russia text "strongly deplores" the multiple missile launches by North Korea and urges that Pyongang to re-establish a moratorium.

It also softens the sanctions provision by calling on UN members to "exercise vigilance," rather than insisting that they prevent the supply of materials, goods and technologies that could contribute to North Korea's missile program.

It also excludes a determination in the Japanese draft that North Korea's actions threatened international peace and security under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. This provision makes a resolution mandatory and can be followed legally by military action, but only if another resolution is adopted.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the Russian-Chinese draft resolution went "a long way" toward meeting concerns of those who back the Japanese resolution.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized Japan as saying "that all countries have to vote as Japan wants," Interfax news agency reported. "I think this is absolutely unacceptable."

The delegation of senior Chinese officials remains in Pyongyang until Friday holding talks on the international standoff. It is seeking to end missile launches from North Korea and draw the country back to six-party disarmament talks.

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters in Paris that Washington and Beijing held a "common purpose."

"China's really trying, we're trying, everyone's trying, except unfortunately the DPRK (North Korea)," Hill said. He was speaking in Beijing after meetings with Chinese officials who have urged North Korea back to talks.

The six-party talks between the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States have been stalled since November.

In the latest sign of strains over North Korea, Beijing Wednesday urged Washington to resolve its dispute with Pyongyang over the financial sanctions.

"It's affecting the progress of the six-party talks and we hope that it will be clarified and resolved as quickly as possible," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.