Progress seen on U.N. answer to nuke test

WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council's five permanent members, Japan and South Korea met to work on a response to North Korea's nuclear test, a U.S. official said.

"We're working very hard on trying to craft a strong, unequivocal, unified response to North Korea's violation of a binding Security Council resolution," U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said during a news briefing Tuesday.

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reported progress being made on developing a resolution, Kelly said.

"There are a number of technical details that still need to be worked out, but we're hopeful that we can do that soon," the spokesman said.

After an initial reaction, the U.N. Security Council has been trying to develop a unified response to Pyongyang's second underground nuclear test and drawing international denunciation.

Kelly said he has seen news reports that North Korea may be preparing for another missile launch.

"I would just say, again, that we call on North Korea to refrain from these kinds of belligerent and provocative actions and return to the negotiating table," Kelly said.

The United States also was watching developments concerning the succession process for North Korea's leader, Kim Il Jong, Kelly said.

He said he had nothing new to report concerning U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, sentenced by North Korea's High Court to 12 years of hard labor after being convicted for committing "hostile acts."

"We're engaged in all ways, through every possible channel, to try and secure the release of these two young women on humanitarian grounds," he said.