The United Nations Security Council is meeting Tuesday to discuss new sanctions in response to North Korea's latest nuclear test.
    The closed-door meetings come as diplomats report the United States and China have reached a tentative deal to punish Pyongyang for last month's test, its third and most powerful yet.
    Diplomats told reporters late Monday they hope the council will be able to vote on a resolution by the end of the week. Details of the draft resolution were not immediately available.
    The Security Council already unanimously condemned the February 12 nuclear test as a "grave violation" of existing U.N. sanctions on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang said its test was aimed at its "arch-enemy," the United States.
    聯(lián)合國安理會(huì)星期二將舉行會(huì)議，討論針對朝鮮最近進(jìn)行核試驗(yàn)而對其實(shí)施新制裁的問題。
    在舉行這次閉門會(huì)議之前，外交官們透露美國和中國已經(jīng)就平壤上月進(jìn)行核試驗(yàn)而對其實(shí)施制裁達(dá)成初步協(xié)議。這是平壤進(jìn)行的第三次核試驗(yàn)，也是當(dāng)量的一次。
    外交官們星期一晚間對記者說，他們希望聯(lián)合國安理會(huì)能在本星期結(jié)束之前就有關(guān)決議案進(jìn)行表決。目前還不清楚這項(xiàng)決議草案的具體內(nèi)容。
    安理會(huì)此前一致譴責(zé)平壤2月12號(hào)進(jìn)行核試驗(yàn)嚴(yán)重違反了聯(lián)合國針對朝鮮核項(xiàng)目以及導(dǎo)彈項(xiàng)目的制裁規(guī)定。平壤說，進(jìn)行核試驗(yàn)是針對其主要敵人美國。