Diplomatic sources say the U.S. and China have agreed to issue a UN Security Council president's statement strongly denouncing North Korea's long-range rocket launch last Friday.

The sources said the two sides discussed response measures by the council following the North's rocket launch and that the 15 council member nations are expected to discuss a draft of the statement on Monday, Korea time.

The draft obtained by Japan's Kyodo news agency calls the rocket launch a grave violation of a UN Security Council resolution prohibiting the launch of ballistic missiles. Kyodo says it also urges expanded sanctions on the North.

The diplomatic sources forecast that when news of China's agreement to the president's statement is reported, it will serve as a strong warning to North Korea.