China, Russia ask to delay resolution

Asked the import of the belligerent North Korean letter, the diplomat said, "Their pronouncements, you need a psychiatrist to analyze."

If the North Koreans sound more threatening, the diplomat added, "is that because they are more threatening or because they feel more threatened?"

China's deputy permanent representative, Zhang Yishan (張義山), said after the meeting that he believed there should be more talks outside the framework of the UN, among North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China and the US.

"The Beijing tripartite dialogue," he said, "was leading in the right direction. So it is natural and logical for us to continue that process."