The United Nations Security Council has wrapped up an emergency meeting
with no agreement on how to respond to North Korea's rocket launch on
Sunday.
After the three-hour session, the Council's president, Mexican
ambassador Claude Heller, told reporters that members agreed to hold
more consultations on what should be the appropriate response to the
North Korean action.
Japan and the United States said they both favor a new Security Council resolution.
After the meeting, Japanese ambassador Yukio Takasu told reporters the
response should be "clear, firm and unified." He said if the Council's
response is not unified, it will send the wrong message to North Korea.
U.S. ambassador Susan Rice called the launch a "clear-cut" violation.
China's envoy was more cautious. Zhang Yesui said all countries
concerned should show "restraint" and refrain from taking action that
could increase tensions.
.
North Korea triggered international alarm when it went ahead with the rocket launch that it says sent a satellite into orbit.
Security experts say they believe the North Korean launch actually was a test of a long-range missile.
The U.S. military denies that any object entered orbit. It says part of
the missile fell into the Sea of Japan, while the rest flew over
Japanese territory and landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Japan says it will extend its own economic sanctions against North
Korea. Those sanctions were imposed after North Korea tested ballistic
missiles and a nuclear device in 2006.