North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, arguing that the missile was in fact of medium range.The United States circulated the statement for adoption by the 15-member council after announcing plans for a new sanctions resolution, but Russia raised objections, UN diplomats said.
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The draft statement recalled that the council agreed to take "further significant measures" in the event of another nuclear test or missile launch and that the top UN body would "begin to work immediately on such measures".
Russia, though, contested the statement's reference to an intercontinental missile launched by North Korea, diplomats said.
The Russian mission to the United Nations
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insisted it had not blocked the statement but rather suggested that the United States "make appropriate amendments to it".
"The Russian delegation could not agree to define the launch as an intercontinental ballistic missile test," the mission said, adding that the Russian defense ministry believed, based on its tracking systems, that the missile was of medium-range.
The United States refused to drop the reference to the intercontinental missile and negotiations on the proposed text ended, diplomats said.
The United States and the United Nations have said the Hwasong-14 launched on Tuesday was of intercontinental range.
The draft statement included a strong condemnation of the launch, setting the stage for a draft resolution on tougher sanctions that the United States said it planned to present in the coming days.