From correspondents in Kanto, Japan, 09:02 PM IST

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso asked visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan for Beijing's support to adopt a UN Security Council resolution against North Korea's nuclear test last month, media reports said Monday.

Aso was quoted as telling Wang that Japan expected China to play a role in denuclearising Pyongyang, government officials said.

'If North Korea comes to possess nuclear weapons, it would have a serious impact on this region,' Kyodo News Agency quoted Aso as saying during a meeting with Wang, who was in Tokyo to attend the second high-level economic dialogue between the two countries.

Wang said China is 'firmly opposed to a nuclear test by North Korea.' But he did not elaborate, saying only that China would continue talks with other countries in the UN.

While Japan wants to adopt a strong UN Security Council resolution that includes additional sanctions on North Korea, China has opposed imposing tough measures on the Stalinist state.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)