N Korea's neighbours urge it to take action on UN vote

North Korea's neighbours have urged the communist state to take notice of the UN Security Council's unified stand against its missile program.

Japan welcomed the resolution as a victory for its own diplomatic initiative, while China and South Korea said they supported sending a unified message to Pyongyang.

The resolution demands that North Korea, which launched seven missiles on July 5, end its ballistic missile program.

It also imposes sanctions on buying or selling parts of technology to help Pyongyang's missile development.

The North Korean Ambassador to the UN, Pak Gil Yon immediately rejected the resolution.

US Ambassador John Bolton told the council that North Korea had set a world record in rejecting the resolution within 45 minutes of its adoption.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA