North Korea Escapes UN Penalties, for Now

The UN Security Council criticized North Korea today for its attempt to launch a rocket but didn't impose sanctions or other penalties. US ambassador Susan Rice said the council "deplored this launch" and agreed to "continue consultations on an appropriate response." The Washington Post says some council members, including China, are worried that if they come down too hard on Pyongyang, it will provoke the North into moving ahead with a nuclear test.

North Korea did suffer one consequence, however: The US is putting on hold a new deal to provide food aid, notes CNN. "Their efforts to launch a missile clearly demonstrate that they could not be trusted to keep their commitment," said a US official. "Therefore, we are not going forward with an agreement to provide them with any assistance." (More North Korea stories.)