The UN Security Council on Tuesday met behind closed doors on how to respond to the third nuclear test conducted last month by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Russia, the rotating president of the 15-nation Security Council this month, called the informal consultations, which came after the supreme military command of the DPRK said that the country would nullify the Korean War Armistice Agreement on Monday.

The Council meeting began at around 11:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday and was adjourned after less than 20 minutes. According to the UN press office, the consultations would resume at 3:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

A draft Security Council sanctions resolution, which was designed to punish DPRK for its third nuclear test since October 2006, was tabled by Washington at the meeting, U.S. ambassador to the UN Susan Rice told reporters after the short session.

"As I said here myself on February 12, the Security Council must and will deliver a credible and strong response that further impedes the growth of DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles program and its ability to engage in proliferation activities," said Rice.

"The resolution today that we tabled does just that," she said. "It builds upon, strengthens, and significantly expands the scope of the strong UN sanctions already in place."

According to the U.S. ambassador, the Council was expected to vote on this resolution later this week.

The DPRK conducted its third nuclear test on Feb. 12, which drew condemnation from the international community. The United States and some other Western countries have been pressing for stricter sanctions against Pyongyang at the UN Security Council.

Signed in 1953 to end the Korean War, the armistice agreement is designed to "insure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved." Endi

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