China joins U.N. condemnation of N. Korea rocket launch

Last Updated 11:41 a.m. ET

(CBS/AP) UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea's rocket launch and warned it will take further action if it conducts another launch or a new nuclear test.

A presidential statement, approved by all 15 council members and read at a formal meeting Monday morning, said Friday's launch, as well as any future use of ballistic missile technology, is "a serious violation" of U.N. sanctions.

"The Security Council deplores that such a launch has caused grave security concerns in the region," the statement reads.

The council also demanded that North Korea halt any further launches and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program, and that it must "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."

It also planned to add "additional entities and items" subject to U.N. sanctions to the current sanctions list.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, the current council president, said the speedy adoption of the statement "shows that the international community is united" in sending a strong message to North Korea, and said its companies dealing in nuclear technology would be added to the sanctions list.

CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk notes that the language of the Security Council statement - adopted unanimously - was stronger than it has been in the past. "It gave a short leash to the sanctions committee to report back in 15 days to increase sanctions, or the issue returns to the Council for consideration," Falk said.

"The importance of the Council's condemnation of North Korea is that China was on board, giving weight to the fact that China also considers North Korea's nuclear ambitions a threat to security," Falk added.

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The Security Council originally imposed sanctions against North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006, and stepped up the sanctions after its second test in 2009.

North Korea's attempt to launch a satellite ended in failure Friday when the rocket disintegrated over the Yellow Sea. Western nations have said the launch was a cover for the testing of a long-range missile, and worries remain about North Korea's nuclear program amid reports that it may be planning another atomic test soon.