United Nations: China and Russia have blocked the US request to the United Nations to condemn North Korea for its decision to withdraw from the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying it would escalate the situation and urged the two sides to solve differences through dialogue.

North Korea's withdrawal from NPT takes effect on April 10 at the end of 90-day notice period.

After the closed-door Council session on the eve of North Korea withdrawal from NPT, its president Ambassador Adolfo Anuilar Zinser of Mexico said the Council members "expressed their concern and the Council will continue to follow developments on this matter".

Russian Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said the only way the problem could be solved is direct bilateral dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. The multilateral forum should be in addition to that. Condemnation, he added, would not help.

China's Ambassador Wang Yingfan also stressed on the need to promote political dialogue.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan emphasised that a format acceptable to both parties should be found to bring them on the negotiating table.

US Ambassador John Negroponte, meanwhile, described the Council's concern as an "acceptable outcome" and assured North Korea that the US was seeking a peaceful solution through diplomatic means. He hoped North Korea would not reject diplomatic efforts or take "further escalatory steps".

"We have not taken option off the table. But at this stage diplomatic contacts that have been ongoing in the region, we viewed this as an acceptable outcome of this particular consultations," he said.

PTI