United Nations, Apr. 14: China''s UN envoy Zhang Yesui has urged the UN Security Council to give a cautious and proportionate response to the Democratic People''s Republic of Korea (DPRK) recent rocket launch.

"Our position on the reaction from the Security Council has been very clear and consistent. That is, the reaction from the Security Council has to be cautious and proportionate," Xinhua quoted Zhang Yesui as telling reporters after the council adopted a presidential statement on the DPRK launch.

New York - Held back from stronger steps by China and Russia, the United Nations Security Council was preparing later Monday to consider chastising North Korea for its rocket launch earlier this month. China and Russia, which have veto power on the council, had objected to a harsher reaction in the form of more sanctions as suggested by Japan and the United States, citing their concern that it would undermine the six-party talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear programme.

New York, April 12 : The U. N. Security Council's five permanent members and Japan reached an agreement on a statement condemning North Korea's rocket launch, and reviving a two-and-a-half year old threat of financial and travel sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Pyongyang's missile programme.

The pact set the stage for a likely agreement as early as Monday by the 15-nation council on a statement that would also demand that North Korea not conduct any additional missile tests.

New York - The United Nations Security Council is prepared to pass a unanimous statement as early as Monday that would condemn North Korea's rocket launch last week but stop short of a stronger resolution backed by Japan and the US. The statement, agreed on in a rare Saturday session of the 15- member council, would order North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution or face further sanctions.

The plans emerged after the council's five veto powers - the US, Russia, China, France and Britain - agreed on the statement after a week of wrangling.

New York - The United Nations Security Council failed to agree Thursday on a resolution against North Korea's claimed satellite launch over the weekend, even as Japan demanded a swift and decisive response. Ambassadors of the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain have been in negotiation sessions with Japan since Sunday, but the discussions have yielded no results.

New York - A United Nations Security Council ended without action Sunday after Japan and the United States demanded a resolution in response to North Korea's firing of a high-altitude rocket.

The 15-country Security Council held a closed session to discuss the action, which Pyongyang claimed was a satellite launch. The US and other powers have question the claim of any satellite being placed into orbit, instead calling a ballistic missile test.