Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the Security Council, however, have opposed such measures in the past.

And that cannot happen as long as two veto-wielding members, Britain and France, believe that diplomacy has not been exhausted.

Two other veto-wielding members, Russia and China, are also believed to be against imposing sanctions at this time.

In practice this power has been relatively little-used because of the presence of five veto-wielding permanent members with interests in a given issue.

All five veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council condemned the nuclear test.

Five of the seats on the Security Council are held by the veto-wielding permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.

But China and Russia, two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council, said they preferred a less forceful, nonbinding statement with no threat of punishment.

Russia, also a veto-wielding permanent member of the Council, echoed that view.

All five veto-wielding permanent members, including China, once North Korea's most supportive neighbour, condemned the nuclear test.

We do not know whether they will have the explicit authorization of veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council.