Vote on DPRK resolution set on Wednesday: UN Security Council president

The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on a resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after the country conducted its fourth nuclear test, Ismael Gaspar Martins, the Security Council president for March, told reporters here on Tuesday.

"We hope to adopt this resolution tomorrow. And now the members of the council have been able to discuss, negotiate, and see how each of the country fits into this," Martins, also Angolan ambassador to the UN, said at a briefing on the Security Council's work plan in March, for which Angola assumes the Council's monthly rotating presidency.

The United States circulated the draft resolution to the 15-nation Council last week. The resolution aims to impose new sanctions on the DPRK to curb the country's nuclear program.

Diplomats said the vote is now planned for 10 a.m. (1500 GMT) on Wednesday.

Martins also noted the role played by China in inviting the DPRK into a more active negotiation to get the country "gradually out of the situation," and he said "more is needed to talk, to negotiate, (and) to engage."

The DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test in January. The previous three nuclear tests took place in 2006, 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Right after the DPRK's first nuclear test, the Security Council adopted a resolution to impose sanctions on the DPRK and set up a sanctions committee.

In response to the nuclear tests conducted by the DPRK in 2009 and 2013, the Security Council has adopted another three resolutions to strengthen various sanctions against the DPRK, which include an arms embargo, an embargo related to nuclear, ballistic missile, and a ban on the export of luxury goods.