The foreign minister of China spoke with U.N. Security Council members and South Korea and urged a united front on the issue, the foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing "exchanged views" with his counterparts from 11 countries on the council and South Korea over the telephone on Sunday, the ministry said in a two-sentence statement posted on its Web site.

He "stressed that any action should be conducive to maintaining the peace and stability in the region and the unity of the Security Council," the statement, said without elaborating.

After last week's barrage of missile tests by the North, the United States, Britain and France have expressed support for a Japanese proposal to slap sanctions on Pyongyang.

But China and Russia, two of North Korea's traditional allies, have voiced opposition to the resolution. Both are veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council.

Nine of 15 votes on the council are needed to pass the resolution, which prohibits nations from procuring missiles or missile-related "items, materials goods and technology" from North Korea. It also prohibits the transfer of financial resources connected to the North's program.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso has said Russia may abstain from the vote _ which Japan hopes will go through Monday _ leaving China as a possible sole veto.

South Korea has not publicly taken a position on the resolution, but on Sunday the government issued a harsh rebuke of Japan's outspoken criticism of the launches.

Pyongyang has refused to return to negotiations to protest a crackdown by Washington on its alleged money-laundering and other financial crimes.

China has suggested an informal gathering which could allow the North to technically stand by its boycott, but at the same time meet with the other five parties _ South Korea, China, the U.S., Japan and Russia.