UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (RIA Novosti) - Six world powers have agreed a draft UN Security Council statement, condemning North Korea's rocket launch, diplomats said on Sunday.

Five permanent council members and Japan agreed on Saturday to the draft statement seen as a compromise between the supporters of tough measures against North Korea and restrained response to the communist regime's rocket launch.

According to the draft, the UN Security Council condemns the rocket launch by North Korea on April 5, 2009, which is in contravention of Security Council Resolution 1718.

The UN Security Council could vote on the draft statement as early as Monday.

Pyongyang launched on April 5 a multistage rocket that it said was carrying a communications satellite, defying pressure from the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries, which suspect the launch was a cover for the test of a Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow was concerned by Pyongyang's recent rocket launch, but believed that imposing sanctions against North Korea would be counterproductive.