The United Nations Security Council condemned North Korea’s rocket launch, as China urged the international organization to act prudently concerning this issue.

The United Nations Security Council condemned North Korea’s rocket launch, as China urged the international organization to act prudently concerning this issue.

The UN Security Council held emergency talks after the North went ahead with a rocket launch in a bid to put a satellite into space.
"Members of the Security Council condemned this launch, which is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874," said a statement released after the meeting.

The council highlighted a warning made after a failed launch in April that it could take "action" if there was a new attempt.
"Members of the Security Council will continue consultations on an appropriate response," said the statement.
For its part, China, North Korea’s ally, resisted US-led pressure on Pyongyang, after Washington urged further action demanding stronger sanctions.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters that China believes any UN response "should be prudent, appropriate and conducive to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and avoid the escalation of the situation".

Hong reaffirmed that China "regrets" the rocket launch, avoiding much stronger language of condemnation used by the United States, South Korea and Japan among others.

In South Korea, foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-Young said that North Korea "must pay the price" for its actions as he called for a new round of sanctions.