The United Nations Security Council meeting on North Korea's missile launch at the UN headquarters Monday, April 13, 2009. -- PHOTO: AP
UNITED NATIONS - THE UN Security Council on Monday unanimously condemned North Korea for violating the world body's resolutions by testing a nuclear bomb, council president Vitaly Churkin of Russia said.
CLOSED-DOOR negotiations on a resolution will begin on Tuesday and can be expected to take at least several days before the 15-nation council has a draft ready to vote on.
WHAT IS A RESOLUTION? A Security Council resolution is a decision by the council that is generally considered to be legally binding. In order to be approved, it must have nine or more votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members - the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia.
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama spoke by phone late on Monday with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung Bak and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to 'coordinate' reaction to North Korea's nuclear test, the White House said.
Mr Obama spoke with Mr Lee 'to consult and coordinate our reaction to the North Korean nuclear test,' the White House said.
'The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted on 25 May 2009 by North Korea, which constitutes a clear violation of (UN) Resolution 1718,' Mr Churkin told reporters following an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.
Member states also decided to immediately begin working on a Security Council resolution to address North Korea's latest test, Mr Churkin said.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Dr Susan Rice, said 'the US thinks this is a grave violation of international law, and a threat to regional and international peace and security.
'And therefore, the United States will seek a strong resolution with strong measures,' she added. 'We believe it ought to be a strong resolution with appropriately strong contents, but obviously unless and until we complete the negotiation process, it is premature to say what its contents will be.'
The emergency meeting began around 4.30pm (4.30am Singapore time), half an hour behind schedule.
It was preceded by a 'P5 + 2' session between the five permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Japan and South Korea, two of the countries involved in six-party talks aimed at shuttering Pyongyang's nuclear program.
Hours earlier, North Korea conducted its test - an underground blast far bigger than its first nuclear test in 2006 - drawing stern rebukes from global leaders, with US President Barack Obama warning of 'grave' danger and Israel stressing 'negative implications' in the Middle East.
The main powers on the Security Council all strongly condemned North Korea with France urging sanctions against Kim Jong Il's Stalinist administration, as foreign ministers from Asia and Europe began two days of talks. -- AFP
