UN Condemns North Korea's Rocket Launch

Soldiers attend a rally to celebrate the successful launch of the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket in December.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution condemning a recent rocket launch by North Korea.

The resolution also imposes fresh travel bans on some North Korean officials and freezes the assets of companies involved in the launch in December.

The Security Council also reiterated its demand that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons program.

It's the first time in four years sanctions have been tightened on North Korea.

North Korea reacted quickly, saying it would hold no more talks on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and would boost its military and nuclear capabilities.

The Foreign Ministry said North Korea "should counter the U.S. hostile policy with strength, not with words."

The resolution was passed with the backing of China, normally an ally of Pyongyang.

The West says the December 12 launch was a missile test in bad disguise.

Based on AP and Reuters reporting