President Lee Myung-bak is calling on the U.N. Security Council to draw up a detailed response to North Korea’s recent rocket launch.

In an interview with Thailand’s daily English newspaper, the president said he hopes that UNSC member nations will reach an agreement within the next couple of days.

Members of the U.N. Security Council failed to agree on a U.N. response during meetings held this week following the North’s launch on Sunday.

Lee also called on the ASEAN member nations to cooperate in responding to Pyongyang’s violation of international regulations, saying the world community must respond in a firm and unified manner.

Lee also emphasized that the North Korean nuclear issue should continue to be addressed within the framework of the six-party talks, noting speculation the launch came amid Pyongyang’s continued development of nuclear weapons.

He added that the ASEAN Plus Three is at the center of his government’s so-called New Asia Initiative. The initiative promotes the expansion of Asian diplomacy to Southeast and Southwest Asia and the South Pacific.