Japan’s Kyodo News reports the United States has shifted its stance and proposed issuing a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) presidential statement on North Korea’s rocket launch.

In a meeting of the five permanent members of the council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – and Japan, Washington proposed issuing a nonbinding presidential statement rather than a full-blown resolution, which may take an extended period of time.

Diplomatic sources said a draft statement drawn up by China expressed concerns on North Korea’s suspected launch of a long-range ballistic missile and simply reaffirmed a previous UNSC resolution 1718.

The move effectively hamstrung Tokyo’s hope of adopting a strong, binding resolution against Pyongyang.