The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's recent intermediate-range missile launch Monday, warning it will continue to closely monitor the situation and take further "significant" measures.

The North test-fired a Musudan missile Saturday, but the missile exploded shortly after take-off. It was the seventh test of a Musudan missile this year, coming after June's successful launch in which the missile reached space and re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the most recent failed ballistic missile launch," the UNSC said in a press statement unanimously adopted after holding an emergency meeting.

"This attempted launch is in grave violation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's international obligations under UNSC resolutions," it added.

The statement called upon its member countries to "redouble their efforts" to fully enforce measures that have been imposed on the North, in particular, the Resolution 2270 adopted in March following its fourth nuclear test earlier in the year.

The UNSC also reiterated the importance of keeping peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asian region, and voiced their commitment to a "peaceful, diplomatic and political solution" to the current stalemate over the North's nuclear and missile development programs.

The test-fire of the Musudan missile believed to be capable of reaching the US territory of Guam came as the international body is working on a fresh resolution aimed at punishing the North for conducting its fifth and strongest-ever nuclear detonation test on Sept. 9.

Efforts are under way to cover "loopholes" found in the previous resolution that the North is suspected of using to get its hands on hard currency and materials necessary to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted this ballistic missile launch," the statement said, urging Pyongyang to refrain from further provocations and come in full compliance with its multiple resolutions.

The UNSC warned that it will "continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, in line with the Council's previously expressed determination."  (Yonhap)