Global Security Newswire

The United States is not easing off efforts to secure a U.N. Security Council response to North Korea's most recent rocket launch even though China seemingly opposes such action and conflicts in Syria and Mali are consuming international attention, the Yonhap News Agency cited an unidentified U.S. official as saying on Monday.

"We are working closely with six-party talks partners, United Nations Security Council member states, and other countries on a clear and credible response" to North Korea's successful December effort to send a long-range rocket into space, the U.S. official said.

The six-party talk participants are China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States. It has been more than four years since the negotiations on North Korean denuclearization were last held.

The rocket launch was seen as a clear violation of Security Council restrictions against North Korea's use of technology with ballistic missile applications. In addition to marking a breakthrough in the aspiring nuclear power's missile development, the launch also raised fears that another nuclear test could soon take place as Pyongyang has a track record of following missile tests with atomic trials.

High-level U.S. officials including Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on Wednesday are slated to meet with South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye in Seoul. The talks are anticipated to address the North Korea security impasse and ensuring continued close policy coordination between the U.S. and South Korean governments, Yonhap also reported.

Park on Monday met with the French and British ambassadors to her nation; she called for their governments to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapon ambitions, the Korea Herald reported.