Her answers were either terse one sentence statements or boilerplate commentary that did not address the questions being asked; her responses were usually a combination of both, contributing to uncertainty at possibly a critical time.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said her country had "heard of reports" about the impeding North Korea missile test, but repeatedly refused to offer details on when and where China had first learned about the planned trial.

Any launch, successful or otherwise, would ratchet up tensions in the ongoing crisis over North Korea's ambitions for nuclear weapons. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned the test was "a very serious matter and a provocative act," saying Washington's stance on the matter was of the "utmost seriousness."

There was an intense flurry of diplomatic activity over the weekend, with Secretary Rice discussing the possibility of a North Korean missile launch with her Japanese and Chinese counterparts, pressuring the PRC in particular to have its client state put a halt to the test.

When queried about China's reaction to Rice's comments, the spokeswoman sidestepped by giving a bland statement about her government wanting "peace on the Korean peninsula and working with relevant parties" towards that end.

The U.S. rebuffed a North Korean offer made in early June for its chief nuclear negotiator, Christopher Hill, to visit Pyongyang for discussions. The North insists a resolution to the nuclear crisis can come about only through direct talks and a non-aggression pact with Washington.

The Bush administration continues to support the six party process - sponsored by China and involving the United States, North and South Korea, Japan and Russia - as the best means to resolve the key multilateral crisis facing East Asia.

Talks have bogged down since the North has refused to return to the table after an American crackdown on banks in Macao dealing with the North Korean government and companies suspected of laundering drug money and counterfeiting U.S. currency.

Analysts believe the silence shown by the PRC on the issue is an effort to downplay reports North Korea has fueled its Taepodong-2 missile and stands on the precipice of testing a weapon system that in its most advanced three stage version would be capable of reaching most of the United States.

The test would break a moratorium on North Korean missile tests that has held since 1999. The last test of a long-range missile, a Taepodong-1, was fired over Japan in 1998.

Members of the American intelligence community believe the missile on the launch pad is a two stage version rocket which has the capability of hitting Alaska.

Some U.S. and Japanese officials believe North Korea is poised to launch because the Taepodong-2 missile has been fueled. It has been five weeks since the first satellite imagery showed launch preparations underway at the Musudan-ri missile facility in North Hamgyong province in northeastern North Korea.

Bad weather at the launch site delayed any test of missile system on Tuesday.

U.S. experts think that North Korea has sufficient plutonium for a minimum of six nuclear weapons and is continuing to beef up its atomic arsenal. Defense specialists say it is plausible the North might be able to build a nuclear warhead small enough to be fit on a missile.

A western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told United Press International the North Koreans "were putting on a show of brinksmanship and bluster," but did not think an actual launch would take place for fear of "alienating the regime's big brother."

Despite recent efforts by South Korea to help its brethren north of the 38th parallel, North Korea remains wholly dependant upon China for its security against any possible U.S. use of force targeting either its nuclear or missile facilities. The PRC also offers multiple forms of economic support to keep its communist neighbor from disintegrating.

When reporters asked what China's response would be if North Korea conducted its missile test and why her answers on this urgent issue were so brief, spokeswoman Jiang retorted by saying she "wouldn't discuss hypothetical situations" and that "this is a press briefing, not a symposium."

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