The experts' special report, sent to the council's sanctions committee late last month, accuses Pyongyang of violating measures imposed against its nuclear program after the DPRK’s 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.

The report also makes proposals for toughening up the sanctions. Western countries say China, the DPRK’s neighbor and big power ally, is key to shutting off arms exports and other activities banned by the 15-nation Security Council.

Diplomats said last week that China had informed council members it would block the publication of the experts' report on the committee's website and the official transfer of the report to the full council.

The committee, which monitors compliance with the sanctions, met for the first time this year on Tuesday.

But diplomats said it was not clear what the council would then do, if China continued to block the report's publication. Decisions by the sanctions committee need consensus.