The United Nations Security Council did nothing after last Saturday’s/Sunday’s launch of their Taepodong-2 ICBM missile. But, just in case, North Korea has fired back a warning.

North Korea warned the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that it would take “strong steps” if the 15-nation body took any action in response to Pyongyang’s launch of a long-range rocket.

“If the Security Council, they take any kind of steps whatever, we’ll consider this is (an) encroachment on our sovereignty and the next option will be ours,” Deputy Ambassador Pak Tok Hun told reporters. “Necessary and strong steps will … follow that.”

Washington, Tokyo and Seoul say North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Sunday in violation of a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution banning the firing of such missiles by Pyongyang. The resolution was passed after a nuclear test by North Korea.

Although the United Nations met Monday for three hours, there was NO consensus. When the UNSC meets again on the issue it is believed that two permanent members, China and Russia, will side with North Korea and block by veto, if necessary, any condemning resolution.

Or, the UNSC could simply agree on some sort of “WATERED DOWN” resolution.

As permanent council members, China and Russia have veto powers and have made clear they would be prepared to use them to stop new sanctions on Pyongyang. The United States and Japan would like a resolution that expands existing financial sanctions against North Korea.

But U.N. diplomats say the United States and Japan might have to accept a non-binding warning statement from the council instead of a legally binding resolution.

A Western diplomat said China had proposed a weak statement, “a completely watered down text which is unacceptable to us (and) … not even worth discussing.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the council “must avoid any hasty conclusions” on North Korea, which says the rocket placed a satellite into orbit.

And, of course, North KJorea maintains the missile launch was simply for launching a communications satellite for “peaceful purposes.”

Don’t look for any substantiative relief from the United Nations now or EVER.

Technorati Tags: North Korea, United Nations