World powers agree UN draft statement on N Korea

The world powers have agreed on a UN Security Council draft statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch, diplomats said on Sunday.

The world powers have agreed on a UN Security Council draft statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch, diplomats said on Sunday.

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The five permanent members of the council and Japan agreed on Saturday to the draft statement seen as a compromise between the supporters of tough measures against North Korea and restrained response to the communist regime's rocket launch.

According to the draft, the UN Security Council condemns the rocket launch by North Korea, which is in contravention of Security Council Resolution 1718.

The Security Council could vote on the draft statement as early as Monday.

On April 5, Pyongyang launched a multistage rocket that it said was carrying a communications satellite, defying pressure from the US, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which suspect the launch was a cover for the test of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow was concerned by Pyongyang's recent rocket launch, but believed that imposing sanctions against North Korea would be counterproductive.