Washington has presented a draft UN resolution calling for an oil embargo on North Korea, an assets freeze on Kim Jong-Un, a ban on textiles and an end to payments of North Korean guest workers.
UN diplomats did not rule out the possibility that China or Russia could veto the measure, but stressed that the US administration had launched a major push to win approval.
"The US intent is so strong on this issue and clearly they are throwing a lot at this," said a Security Council diplomat.
The council diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he expected negotiations on the draft resolution to lead to some changes that could address Russian and Chinese concerns.
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China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi cut short a visit with other council envoys to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa to return to New York and take part in negotiations on the draft text.
Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia this week said a vote on Monday would be "a little premature."
The proposed raft of sanctions would be the toughest-ever imposed on North Korea and seek to punish Pyongyang for its sixth and largest nuclear test.
Britain yesterday backed the measures, saying the sanctions resolution was "a proportionate response to North Korea's illegal and reckless behavior."
"To give a chance for diplomacy to end this crisis, we need DPRK to change course now. That means the maximum possible pressure," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.
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