UN Security Council condemns North Korean rocket launch

The UN Security Council has officially condemned North Korea's recent rocket launch, calling for expanded sanctions because the launch contravened a resolution banning such tests.

All 15 members unanimously endorsed the statement Monday, which is considered a weaker response than a council resolution.

"The Security Council condemns the April 5, 2009, launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is in contravention of Security Council Resolution 1718 of 2006," the statement said.

That resolution banned any missile tests by North Korea. Monday's council statement also demanded an end to such launches.

The statement called for expanded sanctions under the 2006 resolution, which ordered a financial freeze on assets belonging to companies or organizations engaged in supporting North Korean programs related to nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and other serious weapons. The 2006 resolution also banned trade in specific goods used in those programs.

Japanese Ambassador Yukio Takasu, calling his country the most threatened by the rocket launch — which passed over Japan — said his government was "very pleased" by the unanimous message to North Korea that it conducted a "very provocative act" and violated the 2006 resolution.

North Korea had warned earlier that any move to censure it at the UN could prompt its withdrawal from negotiations on dismantling its nuclear weapons program. The North's talks with the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Russia are currently stalled.