Diplomats: US, China agree on NKorea sanctions

An employee of the Indonesian Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) operate screens that show seismic activity after a North Korean nuclear test (at 2:57:50 UTC), in Jakarta on February 12, 2013. AFP FILE PHOTO

UNITED NATIONS—UN diplomats say the United States and China have reached agreement on a new sanctions resolution to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test.

Late Monday evening, the Security Council scheduled closed-door consultations on North Korea for Tuesday morning.

The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made, say the United States is expected to circulate a draft resolution to the full council at the meeting.

All 15 council members approved a press statement condemning the nuclear test and pledging further action hours after North Korea carried out its third atomic blast on February 12.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, whose country holds the council presidency this month, told a news conference Monday that a resolution on North Korea might be approved in March.