US watered-down the text of a resolution to appease China and Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “This is a compromise in order to get everybody on board,” French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said of the draft. Photo / AP

The United Nations Security Council voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea over its largest nuclear bomb test, after the US watered-down the text of a resolution to appease China and Russia.

The resolution was passed unanimously.

A week ago, US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, called for the "strongest possible" sanctions on North Korea and had sought an oil embargo on Pyongyang.

But after negotiations in recent days, mainly among the council's veto powers - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - the revised draft appears to resemble another incremental increase in sanctions on Pyongyang.

Compared to the initial US-draft, given to all 15 council members last week, the new text still imposes a ban on North Korea's textile exports, but it no longer blacklists leader Kim Jong Un or the national airline.

And instead of cutting off Pyongyang's oil supply, the council would only cap crude oil exports to North Korea at current levels.

When asked before the vote if the changes would be enough to win over Russia and North Korean ally China, British UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said today: "Yes. I hope so".

He added: "There is a significant prize in keeping the whole of the Security Council united. The version on the table is strong, it is robust".

A Security Council resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes to pass.

The council has unanimously adopted eight resolutions since 2006 gradually ratcheting up sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.

In negotiations on the latest resolution, diplomats said Russia had questioned what leverage the Security Council would have left if North Korea continued to conduct nuclear and missile testing.

"This is a compromise in order to get everybody on board," French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said of the draft.

- Reuters, AAP