The United Nations failed to agree on a response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) long-range rocket launch despite pressure from Washington and its allies for action, while regional powers weighed the extent of the new security threat.

Council members met for three hours on Sunday but failed to release even a customary preliminary statement of condemnation - evidence of the challenges in agreeing on some kind of punishment. China and Russia hold veto power and could reject any tough measures.

Diplomats privy to the closed-door talks say China, Russia, Libya and Vietnam were concerned about further alienating and destabilizing the DPRK.