A day after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-to-meet-over-north-korea-on-wednesday-at-us-request-267389">United States </a>warned North Korea of consequences of a spectacular weapons test, Pyongyang said it is ready to respond to Washington's any "corresponding measure". &nbsp;

"The United States said about corresponding measure at the meeting, as we have said we have nothing to lose and we are ready to respond to any corresponding measure that the US choooses," North Korea's state news agency KCNA said citing a foreign ministry spokesperson.&nbsp;

Earlier, North Korea vowed for an ominous "Christmas gift" if the US does not come up with concessions by the end of 2019.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the US ambassador, Kelly Craft, said that North Korea was indicating of carrying out intercontinental ballistic missiles test which is designed to attack the US with nuclear weapons.&nbsp;

"Missile and nuclear testing will not bring the DPRK greater security," Craft said, referring to North Korea by its official name.&nbsp;

"We trust that the DPRK will turn away from further hostility and threats, and instead make a bold decision to engage with us," Craft said.

Craft added that if Pyongyang acted otherwise "we, this Security Council, must all be prepared to act accordingly."

(with inputs from Reuters and AFP)

A day after the United States warned North Korea of consequences of a spectacular weapons test, Pyongyang said it is ready to respond to Washington's any "corresponding measure".

A day after the United States warned North Korea of consequences of a spectacular weapons test, Pyongyang said it is ready to respond to Washington's any "corresponding measure". "The United States said about corresponding measure at the meeting, as we have said we have nothing to lose and we are ready to respond to any corresponding measure that the US choooses," North Korea's state news agency KCNA said citing a foreign ministry spokesperson. Earlier, North Korea vowed for an ominous "Christmas gift" if the US does not come up with concessions by the end of 2019. On Wednesday, the US ambassador, Kelly Craft, said that North Korea was indicating of carrying out intercontinental ballistic missiles test which is designed to attack the US with nuclear weapons. "Missile and nuclear testing will not bring the DPRK greater security," Craft said, referring to North Korea by its official name. "We trust that the DPRK will turn away from further hostility and threats, and instead make a bold decision to engage with us," Craft said. Craft added that if Pyongyang acted otherwise "we, this Security Council, must all be prepared to act accordingly." (with inputs from Reuters and AFP)

We are ready to respond to any corresponding measure that US chooses: North Korea

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test.

"Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way," Trump tweeted in response to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-conducts-very-significant-test-as-nuclear-talks-with-the-us-remain-deadlocked-266878">unspecified test </a>at the Sohae space launch center.

The announcement of Saturday's test&nbsp;came just hours after Trump said he would be "surprised" by any hostile action from the North, emphasizing his "very good relationship" with Kim.

Trump and Kim engaged in months of mutual insults and threats of devastation in 2017, sending tensions soaring before a diplomatic rapprochement the following year.

The pair have met three times since June 2018 but with little progress towards <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-off-negotiating-table-with-us-north-koreas-un-envoy-266892">denuclearisation</a>. Pyongyang has set Washington a December&nbsp;31 deadline to make new concessions to kickstart stalled talks.

"North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearise as promised," Trump tweeted. "NATO, China, Russia, Japan, and the entire world is unified on this issue!"

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Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore. He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere.... <a href="https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE">https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1203695081376690177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Writing that Kim had "signed a strong Denuclearisation Agreement" at their June 2018 summit in Singapore," Trump warned: "He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the US&nbsp;Presidential Election in November."

A spokesman for North Korea's Academy of the National Defense Science said Saturday's "very important test" would have an "important effect" on changing the "strategic position" of North Korea, in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The statement did not provide further details on the test.

A senior US administration official earlier said Washington had seen reports of a test and was "coordinating closely with allies and partners."

Trump indicated that military action was still possible when he was asked about Pyongyang on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Britain this week.

North Korea fired back that if the United States used military force it would take "prompt corresponding actions at any level."

UN diplomats fear that North Korea will resume long-range nuclear or ballistic tests if no progress is made soon in talks with the United States.

Sohae, on North Korea's northwest coast, is ostensibly a facility designed for putting satellites into orbit.

But Pyongyang has carried out several rocket launches there that were condemned by the US and others as disguised long-range ballistic missile tests.

Following the Singapore summit, Trump said Kim had agreed to destroy "a major missile engine testing site" without naming the facility.

Kim then agreed to shutter the Sohae site during a summit last year with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang as part of trust-building measures.

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test.

President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that North Korea's Kim Jong Un had "everything" to lose through hostility towards the United States. Trump's comment came after Pyongyang said it had carried out a major new weapons test. "Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way," Trump tweeted in response to the unspecified test at the Sohae space launch center. The announcement of Saturday's test came just hours after Trump said he would be "surprised" by any hostile action from the North, emphasizing his "very good relationship" with Kim. Trump and Kim engaged in months of mutual insults and threats of devastation in 2017, sending tensions soaring before a diplomatic rapprochement the following year. The pair have met three times since June 2018 but with little progress towards denuclearisation. Pyongyang has set Washington a December 31 deadline to make new concessions to kickstart stalled talks. "North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearise as promised," Trump tweeted. "NATO, China, Russia, Japan, and the entire world is unified on this issue!" Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore. He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere.... https://t.co/THfOjfB2uE — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 8, 2019 × Writing that Kim had "signed a strong Denuclearisation Agreement" at their June 2018 summit in Singapore," Trump warned: "He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the US Presidential Election in November." A spokesman for North Korea's Academy of the National Defense Science said Saturday's "very important test" would have an "important effect" on changing the "strategic position" of North Korea, in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. The statement did not provide further details on the test. A senior US administration official earlier said Washington had seen reports of a test and was "coordinating closely with allies and partners." Trump indicated that military action was still possible when he was asked about Pyongyang on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Britain this week. North Korea fired back that if the United States used military force it would take "prompt corresponding actions at any level." UN diplomats fear that North Korea will resume long-range nuclear or ballistic tests if no progress is made soon in talks with the United States. Sohae, on North Korea's northwest coast, is ostensibly a facility designed for putting satellites into orbit. But Pyongyang has carried out several rocket launches there that were condemned by the US and others as disguised long-range ballistic missile tests. Following the Singapore summit, Trump said Kim had agreed to destroy "a major missile engine testing site" without naming the facility. Kim then agreed to shutter the Sohae site during a summit last year with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang as part of trust-building measures.

Kim Jong Un has everything to 'lose': Donald Trump after North Korea's 'significant' test

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters after meeting Russian officials in Moscow it would be "impossible" to hold another summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump if he maintains his current stance towards the North.

"To negotiate with the United States going forward, we would be able to discuss nuclear issues again when it withdraws all of its hostile policy against us," Choe said, according to Yonhap.

"In that sense, I think a summit should not really be an issue of our interest."

She did not specify what constituted such a policy, but North Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday that a recent United Nations resolution on its human rights was a US-led "political provocation".

North Korea has also called for an end to joint military drills with South Korea, as well as sanctions that crippled its economy.

When asked what US&nbsp;action was needed to restart the talks, Choe said the Americans "know very well".

"The US side will have to lift all measures with which they treat us as an enemy and then inform us of such a strategic decision," she said.

Kim and Trump held a first, landmark summit in Singapore in June last year and agreed to improve relations and negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

The efforts have made no substantial progress and their second summit collapsed in Vietnam in February.

The two leaders agreed in June, at a third meeting at the inter-Korean border, to re-open negotiations. But working-level talks in October between officials in Sweden ended with the North Korean envoy accusing the Americans of coming to the table empty-handed.

Choe, one of North Korea's key nuclear negotiators, met Russian officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Yonhap said.

Her remarks were the latest in a series of statements in recent weeks by senior Pyongyang officials calling for US&nbsp;action, as a year-end deadline set by Kim for Washington to show more flexibility draws near.

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

A senior North Korean official said on Wednesday that the United States must drop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang in order to restart stalled denuclearisation talks, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui told reporters after meeting Russian officials in Moscow it would be "impossible" to hold another summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump if he maintains his current stance towards the North. "To negotiate with the United States going forward, we would be able to discuss nuclear issues again when it withdraws all of its hostile policy against us," Choe said, according to Yonhap. "In that sense, I think a summit should not really be an issue of our interest." She did not specify what constituted such a policy, but North Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday that a recent United Nations resolution on its human rights was a US-led "political provocation". North Korea has also called for an end to joint military drills with South Korea, as well as sanctions that crippled its economy. When asked what US action was needed to restart the talks, Choe said the Americans "know very well". "The US side will have to lift all measures with which they treat us as an enemy and then inform us of such a strategic decision," she said. Kim and Trump held a first, landmark summit in Singapore in June last year and agreed to improve relations and negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. The efforts have made no substantial progress and their second summit collapsed in Vietnam in February. The two leaders agreed in June, at a third meeting at the inter-Korean border, to re-open negotiations. But working-level talks in October between officials in Sweden ended with the North Korean envoy accusing the Americans of coming to the table empty-handed. Choe, one of North Korea's key nuclear negotiators, met Russian officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Yonhap said. Her remarks were the latest in a series of statements in recent weeks by senior Pyongyang officials calling for US action, as a year-end deadline set by Kim for Washington to show more flexibility draws near.

North Korea says no interest in Trump summit until 'hostile policy' removed