U.S. diplomat: N. Korean launch a 'provocation'

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, April 16 (UPI) -- A United States and other countries are committed to preventing any further "provocations" by North Korea, a U.S. diplomat said Monday.

After a meeting with Japanese and South Korean diplomats in Seoul Monday, Senior U.S. diplomat Kurt M. Campbell said the three nations were determined to prevent further actions by North Korea, The New York Times reported.

"We agreed that even though the launch was a failure, it was a provocative action that threatens international security," Campbell said. "The international community is united in its strong determination to discourage any further provocations."

The United Nations Security Council has also condemned North Korea's attempted rocket launch last week.

"The Security Council deplores that such a launch has caused grave security concerns in the region," said a statement from council President U.S. ambassador Susan Rice following Friday's launch of what North Korea called an "application satellite."

The council demanded North Korea suspend any plans for further launches using ballistic missile technology.

"The Security Council directed its North Korea Sanctions Committee to designate additional North Korean entities, including companies, to be subject to an asset freeze, as well as to identify additional proliferation-sensitive technology to be banned for transfer to or from North Korea," Rice said. "The committee will also take several other actions to improve enforcement of existing sanctions."