U.N. Council Condemns North Korea for Rocket Launch

The U.N. Security Council, including China and the United States, on Wednesday condemned North Korea for carrying out a banned rocket launch and warned it could take further action.

"Members of the Security Council condemned this launch which is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874," said a statement by the 15-nation body after emergency consultations.

The council warned after a failed rocket launch in April that they could take "action" if the North Korean government made a new attempt. North Korea launched a rocket earlier Wednesday which it said carried a satellite into space.

"Members of the Security Council recalled that in April, 2012 they demanded that the DPRK (North Korea) not to proceed with any further launch using ballistic missile technology, and also expressed the council's determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch," added the statement.

"Members of the Security Council will continue consultations on an appropriate response in accordance with its responsibilities given the urgency of the matter," said the declaration, read to reporters by Mohammed Loulichki, Morocco's U.N. ambassador and the council president for December.

All 15 envoys, including the North's main ally China, condemned the isolated regime's act of defiance in firing the rocket, diplomats who attend the closed meeting said.