联合国安理会星期二将举行会议，讨论针对朝鲜最近进行核试验而对其实施新制裁的问题。

在举行这次闭门会议之前，外交官们透露美国和中国已经就平壤上月进行核试验而对其实施制裁达成初步协议。这是平壤进行的第三次核试验，也是当量最大的一次。

外交官们星期一晚间对记者说，他们希望联合国安理会能在本星期结束之前就有关决议案进行表决。目前还不清楚这项决议草案的具体内容。

安理会此前一致谴责平壤2月12号进行核试验严重违反了联合国针对朝鲜核项目以及导弹项目的制裁规定。平壤说，进行核试验是针对其主要敌人美国。

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.