'Condemn what happened.' Security Council
Photo: AP
N. Korea's rocket launch
Photo: Reuters
UN council meeting on N. Korea ends, no action taken
US, Japan and South Korea say launch violated council resolutions banning firing of ballistic missiles by Pyongyang, call for 'strong' UN response, but Security Council decides on no immediate action
A UN Security Council meeting on Sunday decided on no immediate action against North Korea for its rocket launch but agreed to continue discussions on what response it should make given the "serious situation."
"Members of the Security Council agreed to continue consultations on the appropriate reaction by the council in accordance with its responsibilities given the urgency of the matter," Mexico's UN Ambassador Claude Heller, who holds the council's rotating presidency, told reporters.
Earlier Washington called for "strong" action and China and Russia appealed for calm.
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The 15-nation council began emergency closed-door consultations shortly after 3 p.m. EDT/1900 GMT to discuss North Korea's firing of a long-range rocket on Sunday.
The United States, Japan and South Korea say the launch violated council resolutions banning the firing of ballistic missiles by Pyongyang, which has tested a nuclear device and is in stalled six-party talks about ending its nuclear program.
"The United States' view is this is serious, it's a violation and it merits an appropriately strong United Nations response," US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told the ABC program "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
"The US is working very closely with Japan and we will be in consultation with our partners inside the council, trying to get the most appropriate and strong response we can possibly get."
North Korea, a reclusive and impoverished communist state, said the rocket carried a satellite that was now in orbit, transmitting revolutionary songs as it circled the Earth.
But both the US military and South Korea said it had failed to enter orbit.
French Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert called on all council members, including Russia and China, to stand together in criticizing Pyongyang.
"We expect the council to unanimously condemn what has happened," he told reporters ahead of the meeting.
'Rocket launch reckless'
Council diplomats said China and Russia had made clear they would use their veto powers to block any resolution imposing new sanctions on Pyongyang. Moscow and Beijing have also said they are not convinced the launch violated UN rules.
As a result, Washington and Tokyo planned to draft a resolution demanding stricter enforcement, and possibly expansion, of an existing arms embargo and financial sanctions.
"We will go back and work to both toughen existing regimes but (also) to add to that resolution," Rice said, referring to resolution 1718 passed after North Korea's 2006 nuclear test.
The Americans and Japanese did not circulate a draft resolution ahead of Sunday's meeting. Diplomats said it would likely take at least another day before a draft was ready to distribute to council members.
South Korea said the rocket launch was "reckless" and Japan said it was "extremely regrettable." UN diplomats said Japan's UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu demanded an emergency Security Council meeting minutes after the rocket was fired.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement that called for a "balanced approach and caution." China, the closest North Korea has to a major ally, also called for calm and restraint.
Council diplomats said there was a flurry of phone calls and meetings before the afternoon council meeting as the US, Japanese and allied delegations consulted on a strategy to persuade Russia and China that strong condemnation of North Korea's behavior and tough action were needed.
Japan and the United States say the launch violated Security Council resolution 1718, which banned Pyongyang from launching ballistic missiles or carrying out further nuclear tests.
But diplomats said Russia and China have expressed doubts about whether the launch would qualify as a violation of 1718 if it is confirmed that the rocket carried a satellite.
