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UN condemns N Korea rocket launch | UN condemns N Korea rocket launch |
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The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the launch by North Korea of a long-range rocket. | The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the launch by North Korea of a long-range rocket. |
In a compromise statement, the 15-member council said it would tighten sanctions against Pyongyang in the wake of the 5 April launch. | In a compromise statement, the 15-member council said it would tighten sanctions against Pyongyang in the wake of the 5 April launch. |
The council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. | The council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. |
Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test. | Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test. |
"The Security Council condemns the 5 April 2009 launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is in contravention of Security Council resolution 1718 of 2006," said Claude Heller, the Mexican president of the Security Council. | "The Security Council condemns the 5 April 2009 launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is in contravention of Security Council resolution 1718 of 2006," said Claude Heller, the Mexican president of the Security Council. |
The statement also ordered the UN Sanctions Committee to begin enforcing both financial sanctions and an existing arms embargo against North Korea. | The statement also ordered the UN Sanctions Committee to begin enforcing both financial sanctions and an existing arms embargo against North Korea. |
'Strong and positive' | |
Japan's ambassador to the UN described the North Korean launch as a "provocative act" and said there was "no doubt" it breached the terms of resolution 1718. | Japan's ambassador to the UN described the North Korean launch as a "provocative act" and said there was "no doubt" it breached the terms of resolution 1718. |
Tokyo had sought quick action from the Security Council, and pushed for an official resolution declaring North Korea in breach of the 2006 resolution - but this was opposed by China and Russia. | |
However, both Japan and the US backed the compromise agreed statement, which the BBC's Matthew Price, at the UN, says is not legally binding in the same way as a resolution. | |
And the Japanese envoy hailed the clear language of the unanimous resolution, saying there could be "no stronger message" than the quick and timely action of the Security Council. | |
Susan Rice, the US envoy to the UN, said the statement was a "strong and, we believe, positive outcome". | Susan Rice, the US envoy to the UN, said the statement was a "strong and, we believe, positive outcome". |
"The US is very pleased that the council has today issued a strong, unanimous statement," she said. | "The US is very pleased that the council has today issued a strong, unanimous statement," she said. |
The agreement "clearly demonstrates that there can be no future such launches", Ms Rice added. | The agreement "clearly demonstrates that there can be no future such launches", Ms Rice added. |
China's ambassador warned that the statement came at a "sensitive" time, and urged restraint from all sides involved. |