UNSC to Unite Around 'Swift Response' to N Korea's Rocket Launch - US Envoy

The United Nations Security Council is looking forward to a joint effort of its members in response to repeated violations of UN resolutions by North Korea, the US ambassador to the United Nations said Sunday.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, North Korea announced it had successfully launched the Kwangmyongsong-4 satellite atop a long-range rocket.

"We are looking forward to expeditiously consulting with our colleagues in the coming days and we will be looking to all Council members to unite around a swift and aggressive response to the DPRK's [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] repeated violations," Samantha Power said following an emergency session of the UN Security Council on North Korea.

Power added that Pyongyang's rocket launch showed that North Korea would continue to escalate tensions and jeopardize international peace and security without proper response from international community.

Meanwhile, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Liu Jieyi said Sunday that existing UN sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear activities are unable to stop Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons.

Earlier in the day, Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Motohide Yoshikaw said that North Korea's actions breach the UN Security Council's resolutions. The launch can be called a satellite launch, but it involves ballistic missile technology, he said, adding that Japan will insist on a "harsh resolution."

Tensions over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs escalated after Pyongyang said on January 6 that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community and prompting the UN Security Council to begin drafting an anti-DPRK resolution.

North Korea previously reported a successful satellite launch in 2012, in violation of the UN Security Council resolution.