The U.N. Security Council has issued a statement strongly condemning North Korea's rocket launch and pledging to "expeditiously" adopt a new resolution with "significant" new sanctions.

The statement approved by all 15 council members at an emergency meeting on Sunday underscored that launches using ballistic missile technology, "even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle" contribute to North Korea's development of systems to deliver nuclear weapons.

It stressed that using ballistic missile technology is a violation of four Security Council resolutions dating back to 2006.

The statement also expresses the council's commitment "to continue working toward a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation leading to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."