US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice speaks to the media after a Security Council meeting about the North Korean nuclear test at United Nations Headquarters on May 25, 2009. (AP)
The emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council was a brief one. Members emerged united in condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test.
Said Vitaly Churkin, Russian Ambassador to UN: "The members of the Security Council voiced their strong opposition to and condemnation of the nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on May 25, 2009 which constitutes a clear violation of resolution 1718."
The Security Council said it that it would begin drafting a new legally binding resolution immediately.
The US ambassador made it clear it would seek a strong resolution with strong measures.
US Ambassador to UN Susan Rice said: "We believe it should be a strong resolution with appropriately strong content but obviously unless and until we have completed the process of negotiating that resolution it would be premature to suggest what it contents would be."
Russia and China have traditionally been North Korea's strongest allies on the council. But this time round, both have agreed with other council members to adopt a resolution in response to Pyongyang's latest defiance of international law. But, like in the past, the question now is, just how strong will the resolution be in and will it or will it not include new sanctions.