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Key nations 'agree N Korea draft' Key nations 'agree N Korea draft'
(30 minutes later)
Key countries have agreed a draft statement on North Korea's rocket launch, diplomats at the UN say.Key countries have agreed a draft statement on North Korea's rocket launch, diplomats at the UN say.
The Security Council's five permanent members and Japan had agreed a text that would send a "clear message" to the communist state, the US envoy said. Officials said the Security Council's five permanent members and Japan had agreed on the text of a presidential statement on the 5 April launch.
The Security Council met earlier in the week but failed to agree a unanimous response to the 5 April launch. The statement is a weaker response than the resolution initially sought by Japan and the US.
North Korea insists it launched a satellite, but its neighbours say it tested long-range missile technology. China and Russia had rejected that idea, calling on the international community to act with restraint.
The US, Japan and South Korea say that the launch violated a UN resolution that bans Pyongyang from carrying out ballistic missile activity. North Korea says the purpose of its rocket launch was to put a satellite into orbit as part of its peaceful development of space.
They had called for a strong response - but China and Russia had urged restraint. But its neighbours say it was testing long-range missile technology - something that violates a UN resolution banning Pyongyang from carrying out ballistic missile activity.
The agreement came after envoys from permanent members the US, France, China, Russia and UK - plus Japan - held two-hour talks in New York. 'Clear message'
US Ambassador Susan Rice said that the draft would now be circulated to non-permanent members of the council. The Security Council met earlier in the week but failed to agree a unanimous response.
"We think this text sends a clear message," she said. The apparent agreement came after envoys from permanent members the US, France, China, Russia and UK - plus Japan - held two-hour talks in New York.
US Ambassador Susan Rice gave no details of the statement, but said that it would send a "clear message" to North Korea.
The statement is being presented to a closed-door meeting of the full 15-member Security Council.