The unanimous condemnation, in the form of a Presidential negotiations, came yesterday afternoon after days of intense
negotiations among the members of the Security Council, in particular the veto-wielding permanent members; with Russia and China on one side and Britain, France and the US on the other side.
Reading out a presidential statement, Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the Council's rotating presidency for the month of April, said the UNSC deems the April 5 launch to be in contravention of resolution 1718.
Passed in 2006, the resolution demanded that North Korea "not conduct any further nuclear test or launch of a ballistic
missile," following its claims to have conducted a nuclear test in October 2006.
Heller
said the Security Council members expressed their desire for a "peaceful and diplomatic solution to the situation" and welcomed Member States' efforts to reach a "comprehensive solution through dialogue." The Presidential statement also said it will adjust sanctions, imposed by the 2006 resolution, by the end of this month.
