US, China in deal on UN N. Korea rebuke; Russia to back it

The United States and China have struck a tentative deal on a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning North Korea for its December rocket launch, UN diplomats said on Friday, and Russia predicted it would be approved by the council.    

The resolution would not impose new sanctions, but would call for expanding existing UN sanctions measures against Pyongyang, the envoys said on condition of anonymity. They added that China's support for the move would be a significant diplomatic blow to Pyongyang.    

The 15-nation council could adopt the compromise resolution next week, they said.    

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin confirmed the diplomats' comments in remarks quoted by the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency, saying that adoption was likely early next week.    

The tentative deal, they said, was that Washington would forgo the idea of immediate new sanctions, while Beijing would accept the idea of a resolution instead of a statement, which makes the rebuke more forceful.    


REUTERS