The U.N. Security Council remained split Friday over a recent failed bid by North Korea to launch a spy satellite in an urgent meeting convened at the request of countries such as the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The United States and its Asian security allies criticized Pyongyang for attempting to launch a satellite-carrying rocket in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, while Russia and China defended the act.
Robert Wood, deputy U.S. ambassador to the world body, told the session that Washington "condemns in the strongest possible terms" North Korea's attempt on Monday to put a satellite into Earth's orbit with a rocket using ballistic missile technology.
The U.S. envoy also repeated a call on Moscow and Beijing, other influential council members that have veto rights, to cooperate so the panel can adopt a measure against North Korea.
Anna Evstigneeva, deputy Russian ambassador, defended the launch, saying North Korea "is forced to take action to strengthen its national defense capacity" due to military drills by the United States and its allies near the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean ambassador Kim Song complained in his remarks at the session that the Security Council is "repeating anachronistic and shameful practice of taking issue with the launch of the satellite, which belonged to legitimate and universal rights of sovereign state."
Related coverage:
Japan, U.S. launch talks on infrastructure development cooperation
Austin airs concern over China's "provocative" activity near Taiwan
FOCUS: Asia security may be at risk if Japan-South Korea ties sour again
