The UN Security Council on Wednesday gave a 10-year extension to its main legal weapon to prevent nuclear, chemical and biological weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups.

The UN non-proliferation committee, first set up by Resolution 1540 in 2004, is normally renewed every three years, and diplomats said the 10-year extension given this time is a sign of the urgency of the campaign.

The White House hailed the decision, saying the new mandate would allow the committee "to continue its valuable work, including through adoption of effective laws, security measures, border controls, and financial controls."

The 15-nation council said it remained "gravely concerned" about the threat of terrorist attacks carried out with weapons of mass destruction.

The Security Council first acted after Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, was revealed to have sold atomic secrets.

Resolution 1540 is considered a landmark measure because it was the first to recognize the nuclear threat from terrorist and militant groups.

It forced countries to pass laws restricting trade in nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological weapons and components.

North Korea is among a small number of countries which have not yet reported to the United Nations on efforts under the resolution.