The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea for its attempted launch of a long-range rocket last week.

The resolution calls Friday's launch “a serious violation of existing Security Council resolutions” aimed halting Pyongyang's use of ballistic missile technology.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice says the failed launch caused “grave security concerns” across much of East Asia. She also praised the Council's united front in condemning the violation.

“The swift and unanimous adoption of this strong presidential statement shows that the international community is united in sending a clear message to North Korea that such provocations are serious and totally unacceptable. Critically, the Security Council made clear there will be consequences for any further North Korean launch or nuclear test. If North Korea chooses again to defy the international community, then the Council has expressed its determination to take action accordingly.”

The North Korean rocket broke apart shortly after launch, with debris falling into the Yellow Sea.

The U.N. condemnation also demands the North refrain from any further launches using ballistic missile technology, and calls for the isolated Pyongyang government to abandon “all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.”

There was no immediate North Korean response to the U.N. resolution.

The formal condemnation comes as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell continued meetings in Tokyo with senior Japanese officials to plot strategy aimed at gaining North Korean compliance with U.N. and regional initiatives.

“…All I can say is that there has been very close coordination between the United States and Japan and I think what we have heard is satisfaction with how we've worked together and what indeed we have accomplished together.”

Before the U.N. resolution was approved, reports from New York said the statement had been delayed by China, which was seeking softer language than that favored by the United States. Council statements require unanimous agreement, unlike resolutions, which are passed on a vote.