Russia is delaying a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's latest missile tests in an attempt to attach a statement saying all sides should reduce their military activities.
UN diplomats said the remaining 14 council members, including Pyongyang's closest ally China, have agreed to the condemnation resolution without the amendment.
North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two intermediate-range ballistic missiles last week, but both failed. It was the latest in a series of test launches aimed at intimidating South Korea and others in the region.
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin conceded that the United States and other council members are "unhappy" with Moscow's attachment, and question why Russia is targeting the United States and South Korea for installing a new anti-missile system to deal with the growing threat from Pyongyang.
Russia and China have both objected to the new U.S. missile defense system being installed on the Korean peninsula close to their borders.
"We need to call a spade a spade, and we think that asking for the interested parties to scale down their military activity in the region is very important," Churkin said.