A Japan-led resolution urging the elimination of nuclear arms was approved Monday by the U.N. General Assembly's First Committee on disarmament with endorsements by 164 countries, marking the 20th year in a row that such a resolution has been passed.

The resolution, which is expected to be approved by the General Assembly at a meeting in early December, drew a record 102 co-sponsors.

North Korea was the only country to vote against it. The resolution condemned "in the strongest terms the nuclear test conducted" by North Korea in February and called on Pyongyang to "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs."

Fourteen other countries, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel, abstained.

Among other nuclear powers, the United States co-sponsored and voted for it, while Britain and France backed it without joining as sponsors.