A U.N. Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's latest nuclear test is expected to take shape this weekend at the earliest.

A diplomatic source at the U.N. said South Korea, Japan and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council are in the process of drawing up the first draft of the resolution.

The source said the outline of the resolution will likely be released this weekend

But the source added that the discussions may drag out, considering China, a longtime opponent of hard-line action against the North, has yet to reveal how strong of a stance it is willing to take on the issue.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the U.S. and Japan are leading the meeting to draft the resolution.

The Security Council will hold another meeting on the North Korean nuclear problem Friday.