U.S. reportedly unable to broker U.N. condemnation of North Korea

Both Russia and China are objecting to a U.N. Security Council condemnation of North Korea's July 4 rocket launch drafted by the United States, with Russia refusing to accept that North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, diplomats told Reuters and Bloomberg.

North Korea said it was an intercontinental ballistic missile, and the United States believes this was the case, but in a statement, Russia's U.N. mission said the flight data "corresponds to the tactical and technical parameters of a medium-range ballistic missile." Security Council statements have to be agreed on by all members, and it's unclear if further negotiations will take place between the five permanent members of the council in order to reach a consensus.

On Wednesday, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said she will propose new sanctions against North Korea in the next few days. The country has been under sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear weapons program.

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