Encouraging to see Chinese effort to control North Korea

"It's important that North Korea know we are not trying to pick a fight, so don't try to give us one", Haley said.

He said a unified effort to contain North Korea's threat is a positive step to protect not only U.S. security interests but also those in the region. It is a very positive sign to see them play a larger role.

US Vice President Mike Pence has threatened North Korea with an "overwhelming" response to any use of conventional or nuclear weapons.

"Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan", Pence had said, referring to missile strikes in Syria for deadly chemical attack and dropping of the mother of all bombs over IS hideout in Afghanistan.

North Korea has a long history of portraying mock violence against the United States in propaganda videos.

China, a close ally of North Korea, today expressed serious concern over Pyongyang's plans to step up its nuclear and missile programmes.

"There has been heightened tension between the USA, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea".

Haley, the current president of the U.N. Security Council, said members were working on a statement condemning the latest failed missile launch.

North Korea, however, withdrew from the six-party talks aimed at the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in 2009 and has shown no interest in returning.

Diplomats said the US -drafted statement would strongly condemn the launch and express the council's "utmost concern" at North Korea's "highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance" of council resolutions.

Russian Federation wanted to include language contained in a previous resolution stressing the need to achieve a solution through dialogue, council diplomats said.

One diplomat said it was unlikely the Security Council would be able to resolve differences on the statement.

North Korea's state television aired footage of a choral performance attended by Kim Jong Un, the elder Kim's grandson, on Sunday.

"It certainly brings into question the United States bluff on its ability to strike North Korea at that particular time, and I'm sure its allies are wondering now about the credibility of the United States saying that it has South Korea's back 100 percent", he said.

A concept paper circulated to council members ahead of the meeting states that North Korea's "pursuit of weapons of mass destruction represents one of the gravest threats to global peace and security the Security Council faces".

It says the meeting will give council members an opportunity to discuss ways to maximize the impact of existing United Nations sanctions "and show their resolve to respond to further provocations with significant new measures".

Lu stressed that given the complicated and sensitive situation on the Korean Peninsula, China firmly opposes any words and deeds that could heighten hostility and tension and called on all parties involved to make efforts to ease the tension.