The United States on Monday raised concerns about North Korea making preparations to conduct its seventh nuclear test. The outgoing spokesperson of the US State Department, Ned Price, urged the international community to take concerted action in response to such a destabilising event.&nbsp;

"DPRK has finalised all of the steps it would need to take to conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test. A seventh nuclear test would be a dangerous provocation that would itself constitute a significant threat to peace and security in the region," said Price, who will soon be replaced by Indian American Vedant&nbsp;Patel as interim spokesperson.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently passed a new law laying down conditions in which the country would be inclined to use its nuclear weapons. It states that in the event of a provocation that puts Pyongyang's leadership under attack, the North Korean military can "automatically" execute nuclear strikes against enemy forces. The new law also says that North Korea could use nukes to prevent an unspecified "catastrophic crisis" for its government and people.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-two-strategic-cruise-missiles-from-a-submarine-571286">North Korea fires two strategic cruise missiles from submarine</a>

"The entire world would need to respond in a case like that. Countries on the Security Council, especially the Permanent Five, we would hope to see, concerted action in response to such a destabilising event," said Price.

In its latest missile test, North Korea fired two "strategic cruise missiles" from a submarine in waters off its east coast over the weekend. The missile tests were a show of protest against the South Korea-US combined military exercise that began Monday.&nbsp;

KCNA said the submarine launches aimed to show North Korea's determination to control a situation in which "the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces are getting evermore undisguised in their anti-DPRK military manoeuvres."

According to KCNA, the strategic cruise missiles were fired from the "8.24 Yongung" submarine in the waters off the east coast of Korea in the early hours of Sunday. The missiles travelled some 1,500 kilometres before hitting a target in the sea.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The United States on Monday raised concerns about North Korea making preparations to conduct its seventh nuclear test. The outgoing spokesperson of the US State Department, Ned Price, urged the international community to take concerted action in response to such a destabilising event.

The United States on Monday raised concerns about North Korea making preparations to conduct its seventh nuclear test. The outgoing spokesperson of the US State Department, Ned Price, urged the international community to take concerted action in response to such a destabilising event. "DPRK has finalised all of the steps it would need to take to conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test. A seventh nuclear test would be a dangerous provocation that would itself constitute a significant threat to peace and security in the region," said Price, who will soon be replaced by Indian American Vedant Patel as interim spokesperson. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently passed a new law laying down conditions in which the country would be inclined to use its nuclear weapons. It states that in the event of a provocation that puts Pyongyang's leadership under attack, the North Korean military can "automatically" execute nuclear strikes against enemy forces. The new law also says that North Korea could use nukes to prevent an unspecified "catastrophic crisis" for its government and people. Also Read | North Korea fires two strategic cruise missiles from submarine "The entire world would need to respond in a case like that. Countries on the Security Council, especially the Permanent Five, we would hope to see, concerted action in response to such a destabilising event," said Price. In its latest missile test, North Korea fired two "strategic cruise missiles" from a submarine in waters off its east coast over the weekend. The missile tests were a show of protest against the South Korea-US combined military exercise that began Monday. KCNA said the submarine launches aimed to show North Korea's determination to control a situation in which "the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces are getting evermore undisguised in their anti-DPRK military manoeuvres." According to KCNA, the strategic cruise missiles were fired from the "8.24 Yongung" submarine in the waters off the east coast of Korea in the early hours of Sunday. The missiles travelled some 1,500 kilometres before hitting a target in the sea. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

North Korea preparing for its seventh nuclear test, would be dangerous provocation, US warns

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington&#39;s envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang.

&quot;We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there,&quot; the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.

Washington and Beijing -- the North&#39;s sole diplomatic and military ally -- are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added.

&quot;That&#39;s what we are working on now. We don&#39;t have it done yet,&quot; she said.

&quot;Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us.&quot;

On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm.&nbsp;

Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a &quot;heavy nuclear warhead.&quot;

The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers (1,312 miles) and travelled 787 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said.&nbsp;

(AFP)

'We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there,' US envoy to the United Nations said

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington's envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang. "We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there," the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting. Washington and Beijing -- the North's sole diplomatic and military ally -- are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added. "That's what we are working on now. We don't have it done yet," she said. "Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us." On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm. Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a "heavy nuclear warhead." The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers (1,312 miles) and travelled 787 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said. (AFP)

US would talk to N Korea if missile, nuclear tests stop: Haley

Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea following the country&#39;s fifth nuclear test in September and consider further measures depending on Pyongyang&#39;s moves, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday.

Japan will expand a list of people prohibited from re-entering Japan after visiting North Korea, while also banning all ships that have called at ports in North Korea, Suga told a news conference.

Tokyo will also freeze the assets of more groups and individuals connected to North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missiles development, he said.

Japan&#39;s decision came after the UN&nbsp;Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea this week aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter.

South&nbsp;Korea also imposed fresh unilateral sanctions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and ballistic missile tests on Friday.

The South&nbsp;Korean government said in a statement it would ban entry by foreign missile and nuclear experts if their visits to&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;were deemed to be a threat to the South&#39;s national interests.

(Reuters)

The decision comes after North Korea's fifth nuclear test in September. Japan will consider further measures depending on Pyongyang's moves

Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea following the country's fifth nuclear test in September and consider further measures depending on Pyongyang's moves, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday. Japan will expand a list of people prohibited from re-entering Japan after visiting North Korea, while also banning all ships that have called at ports in North Korea, Suga told a news conference. Tokyo will also freeze the assets of more groups and individuals connected to North Korea's nuclear and missiles development, he said. Japan's decision came after the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea this week aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter. South Korea also imposed fresh unilateral sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests on Friday. The South Korean government said in a statement it would ban entry by foreign missile and nuclear experts if their visits to North Korea were deemed to be a threat to the South's national interests. (Reuters)

Japan to impose additional sanctions on North Korea

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously imposed its toughest sanctions on North Korea, placing a cap on the hermit state&#39;s key coal exports after its defiant nuclear tests.

The new sanctions resolution -- which was spearheaded by the United States and came after three months of tough negotiations with fellow veto-wielding council member China -- passed by a 15-0 vote.

The resolution demands that North Korea &quot;abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs&quot; and takes aim at the state&#39;s exports of coal, its top external revenue source.

Under Resolution 2321, North Korea will be restricted from exporting more than 7.5 million tonnes of coal in 2017, a reduction of 62 per cent from 2015.

Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the resolution would strip the regime of more than $700 million in hard currency, dramatically reducing the money it can spend on nuclear and ballistic weapons.

Speaking to reporters with her counterparts from US allies South Korea and Japan, she said the move marked &quot;the strongest sanctions regime the Security Council has imposed on any country in more than a generation.&quot;

&quot;So long as the DPRK makes the choice it has made, which is to pursue the path of violations instead of the path of dialogue, we will continue to work to increase the pressure and defend ourselves and allies from this threat,&quot; Power said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea.

China joins in pressure

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all countries to enforce the resolution.

&quot;It sends an unequivocal message that the DPRK must cease further provocative actions and comply fully with its international obligations,&quot; said Ban, who has flirted with entering politics in his native South Korea after his term ends in a month.

Ban said he was still committed to &quot;sincere dialogue&quot; to resolve the nuclear issue and stood by calls to provide humanitarian assistance to ease the suffering of ordinary North Koreans.

China is North Korea&#39;s primary ally and one of the few markets for its coal.

Although Beijing has traditionally protected Pyongyang diplomatically, believing that Kim Jong-Un&#39;s regime is preferable to its collapse, it has grown frustrated by the neighboring state&#39;s defiance.

China&#39;s UN ambassador, Liu Jieyi, reiterated that Beijing &quot;strongly opposes&quot; the North Korean nuclear tests -- but also made a veiled criticism of joint exercises between the United States and South Korea.

&quot;Certain parties increase their military presence and scale up military exercises, thus intensifying the confrontation,&quot; he said at the Council.&nbsp;

&quot;This situation must be changed as soon as possible,&quot; he said.

- Expanding breadth of sanctions -

The UN Security Council resolution condemns &quot;in the strongest terms&quot; North Korea&#39;s nuclear test on September 9 -- the communist state&#39;s second this year.

Pyongyang claimed at the time that it had made major strides in its efforts to fit a miniaturized warhead on a missile that could reach the United States.

North Korea, which insists its nuclear weapons are a deterrent to US &quot;aggression,&quot; brushed aside earlier sanctions that targeted its weapons exports, access to financial markets and imports of luxury goods.

In addition to coal, the Security Council on Wednesday banned North Korea from exporting certain metals, including copper, silver, zinc and nickel, that bring in an estimated $100 million a year.

The Security Council also added 10 companies and 11 individuals --including the former North Korean ambassadors to Egypt and Myanmar -- to a blacklist under which their travel is restricted and assets frozen due to their alleged role in Pyongyang&#39;s military programs.

Although the outgoing US administration of President Barack Obama has generally favored dialogue over conflict, it has taken a tough line on North Korea after Pyongyang rebuffed early overtures.

Power said the latest resolution is groundbreaking because it also takes North Korea to task for its human rights violations.

In another rare clause, the resolution threatens North Korea with some losses of diplomatic rights at the United Nations if it violates resolutions.

But Japan&#39;s UN envoy, Koro Bessho, voiced willingness to return to dialogue if North Korea shows a &quot;serious commitment.&quot;

&quot;We are introducing sanctions not for the sake of introduction sanctions,&quot; he said, &quot;but in order to change the course of DPRK policy.&quot;

(AFP)

Under Resolution 2321, North Korea will be restricted from exporting more than 7.5 million tonnes of coal in 2017

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously imposed its toughest sanctions on North Korea, placing a cap on the hermit state's key coal exports after its defiant nuclear tests. The new sanctions resolution -- which was spearheaded by the United States and came after three months of tough negotiations with fellow veto-wielding council member China -- passed by a 15-0 vote. The resolution demands that North Korea "abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs" and takes aim at the state's exports of coal, its top external revenue source. Under Resolution 2321, North Korea will be restricted from exporting more than 7.5 million tonnes of coal in 2017, a reduction of 62 per cent from 2015. Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the resolution would strip the regime of more than $700 million in hard currency, dramatically reducing the money it can spend on nuclear and ballistic weapons. Speaking to reporters with her counterparts from US allies South Korea and Japan, she said the move marked "the strongest sanctions regime the Security Council has imposed on any country in more than a generation." "So long as the DPRK makes the choice it has made, which is to pursue the path of violations instead of the path of dialogue, we will continue to work to increase the pressure and defend ourselves and allies from this threat," Power said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. China joins in pressure UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all countries to enforce the resolution. "It sends an unequivocal message that the DPRK must cease further provocative actions and comply fully with its international obligations," said Ban, who has flirted with entering politics in his native South Korea after his term ends in a month. Ban said he was still committed to "sincere dialogue" to resolve the nuclear issue and stood by calls to provide humanitarian assistance to ease the suffering of ordinary North Koreans. China is North Korea's primary ally and one of the few markets for its coal. Although Beijing has traditionally protected Pyongyang diplomatically, believing that Kim Jong-Un's regime is preferable to its collapse, it has grown frustrated by the neighboring state's defiance. China's UN ambassador, Liu Jieyi, reiterated that Beijing "strongly opposes" the North Korean nuclear tests -- but also made a veiled criticism of joint exercises between the United States and South Korea. "Certain parties increase their military presence and scale up military exercises, thus intensifying the confrontation," he said at the Council. "This situation must be changed as soon as possible," he said. - Expanding breadth of sanctions - The UN Security Council resolution condemns "in the strongest terms" North Korea's nuclear test on September 9 -- the communist state's second this year. Pyongyang claimed at the time that it had made major strides in its efforts to fit a miniaturized warhead on a missile that could reach the United States. North Korea, which insists its nuclear weapons are a deterrent to US "aggression," brushed aside earlier sanctions that targeted its weapons exports, access to financial markets and imports of luxury goods. In addition to coal, the Security Council on Wednesday banned North Korea from exporting certain metals, including copper, silver, zinc and nickel, that bring in an estimated $100 million a year. The Security Council also added 10 companies and 11 individuals --including the former North Korean ambassadors to Egypt and Myanmar -- to a blacklist under which their travel is restricted and assets frozen due to their alleged role in Pyongyang's military programs. Although the outgoing US administration of President Barack Obama has generally favored dialogue over conflict, it has taken a tough line on North Korea after Pyongyang rebuffed early overtures. Power said the latest resolution is groundbreaking because it also takes North Korea to task for its human rights violations. In another rare clause, the resolution threatens North Korea with some losses of diplomatic rights at the United Nations if it violates resolutions. But Japan's UN envoy, Koro Bessho, voiced willingness to return to dialogue if North Korea shows a "serious commitment." "We are introducing sanctions not for the sake of introduction sanctions," he said, "but in order to change the course of DPRK policy." (AFP)

UN Security Council unanimously votes to impose limit on North Korea's coal exports

The United Nations is readying tighter sanctions on North Korea that would limit its coal exports to China, in response to Pyongyang&#39;s fifth and biggest nuclear test, US diplomats said Monday.

The resolution, spearheaded by the United States and negotiated with Beijing for three months, should go to a Security Council vote early Wednesday, according to diplomats who expect it will pass.

&quot;This resolution would impose a hard, binding cap that will cut the DPRK&#39;s coal exports, which are its largest single source of external revenues, by more than 60 percent,&quot; said a US official familiar with the text, using the formal acronym for the North.

The tightening aims to cut $700 million from Pyongyang&#39;s coal earnings -- or a 62 per cent reduction from last year.

&quot;It would dramatically reduce the regime&#39;s access to hard currency used for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs,&quot; the diplomat stressed.

&quot;We do not claim that this resolution is going to cause the DPRK to abandon its nuclear weapons program... but this resolution would make it significantly more difficult.&quot;

And China, North Korea&#39;s lone ally, is also among the few potential markets for that coal.

The draft text says that the Council &quot;condemns in the strongest terms&quot; the North&#39;s September 9 test. Pyongyang claimed at the time it had made major strides in its efforts to fit a miniaturized warhead on a rocket that could reach the United States.

&quot;The measures imposed by this resolution are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of the DPRK,&quot; the draft text adds.

US President Barack Obama reportedly told his incoming successor Donald Trump that confronting the nuclear threat from North Korea represents the top US national security priority.

The reclusive regime has carried out more than 20 missile tests this year, one of which reached Japanese-controlled waters after a launch in August.

(AFP)

The resolution is expected to restrict North Korea's coal exports, its single largest source of external revenue by more than 60 per cent

The United Nations is readying tighter sanctions on North Korea that would limit its coal exports to China, in response to Pyongyang's fifth and biggest nuclear test, US diplomats said Monday. The resolution, spearheaded by the United States and negotiated with Beijing for three months, should go to a Security Council vote early Wednesday, according to diplomats who expect it will pass. "This resolution would impose a hard, binding cap that will cut the DPRK's coal exports, which are its largest single source of external revenues, by more than 60 percent," said a US official familiar with the text, using the formal acronym for the North. The tightening aims to cut $700 million from Pyongyang's coal earnings -- or a 62 per cent reduction from last year. "It would dramatically reduce the regime's access to hard currency used for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs," the diplomat stressed. "We do not claim that this resolution is going to cause the DPRK to abandon its nuclear weapons program... but this resolution would make it significantly more difficult." And China, North Korea's lone ally, is also among the few potential markets for that coal. The draft text says that the Council "condemns in the strongest terms" the North's September 9 test. Pyongyang claimed at the time it had made major strides in its efforts to fit a miniaturized warhead on a rocket that could reach the United States. "The measures imposed by this resolution are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of the DPRK," the draft text adds. US President Barack Obama reportedly told his incoming successor Donald Trump that confronting the nuclear threat from North Korea represents the top US national security priority. The reclusive regime has carried out more than 20 missile tests this year, one of which reached Japanese-controlled waters after a launch in August. (AFP)

UN to vote on tighter North Korea sanctions

The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of nuclear weapons. 
 
More than 160 countries have ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). But eight nations have not yet ratified the treaty.&nbsp; 
 
The 15-member Council urged China, the United States, North Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel and Pakistan to ratify the agreement, which would allow the deal negotiated 20 years ago to come into force. 
 
Since then India, Pakistan and North Korea have conducted nuclear tests.&nbsp; 
 
Invoking North Korea&#39;s latest and largest nuclear explosion, the US secretary of state John Kerry said the treaty would make for &quot;a safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet.&quot; 
 
The resolution draft by the United States calls on all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear explosions. 
 
&quot;But it does reinforce the core purposes and objectives of the CTBT itself: to diminish our reliance on nuclear devices, to reduce competition among nuclear powers, and to promote responsible disarmament,&quot; Kerry told the council. 
 
14 member countries voted in favour of the resolution and an abstention by Egypt. 
 
Egypt&#39;s Hisham Badr, assistant foreign minister for multilateral affairs, described the resolution as &quot;substantively flawed and ill-suited to be addressed in the Security Council.&quot; 
 
&quot;Its contribution to the nuclear disarmament regime is minimal and ineffective. Rather than strengthening this regime, the resolution squanders the opportunity to emphasise the urgency to advance nuclear disarmament,&quot; he told the council. 
 
Although the resolution does not impose any legal obligations on the countries, but would add political weight to the push for an early ratification of the treaty.&nbsp; 
 
The United States itself has not yet ratified the ban on nuclear tets. US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration is in favour of the treaty but a number of lawmakers, including Republicans oppose the pact fearing it would limit their security options.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Our affirmative vote here is a sign of our unwavering commitment to a safer world in which nuclear technology is used solely for peaceful purposes and the risk of nuclear conflict is no more,&quot; Kerry said. 
 
Anti-treaty minded Republicans had rejected it under former US President Bill Clinton and congressional opposition remains strong till date.&nbsp; 
 
UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia said Moscow hoped the next president of the United States would be &quot;more strident in his desire to ratify it.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The UN&#39;s Comprehensive Test Ban Organisation has a network of monitoring stations. But it still cannot go on site to inspect for tests until the treaty enters into force.&nbsp; 
 
For that, the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated &quot;nuclear-capable&quot; the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan must ratify.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, yet to be ratified by eight nations, urges global nuclear disarmament

The United Nations Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of nuclear weapons. More than 160 countries have ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). But eight nations have not yet ratified the treaty. The 15-member Council urged China, the United States, North Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel and Pakistan to ratify the agreement, which would allow the deal negotiated 20 years ago to come into force. Since then India, Pakistan and North Korea have conducted nuclear tests. Invoking North Korea's latest and largest nuclear explosion, the US secretary of state John Kerry said the treaty would make for "a safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet." The resolution draft by the United States calls on all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear explosions. "But it does reinforce the core purposes and objectives of the CTBT itself: to diminish our reliance on nuclear devices, to reduce competition among nuclear powers, and to promote responsible disarmament," Kerry told the council. 14 member countries voted in favour of the resolution and an abstention by Egypt. Egypt's Hisham Badr, assistant foreign minister for multilateral affairs, described the resolution as "substantively flawed and ill-suited to be addressed in the Security Council." "Its contribution to the nuclear disarmament regime is minimal and ineffective. Rather than strengthening this regime, the resolution squanders the opportunity to emphasise the urgency to advance nuclear disarmament," he told the council. Although the resolution does not impose any legal obligations on the countries, but would add political weight to the push for an early ratification of the treaty. The United States itself has not yet ratified the ban on nuclear tets. US President Barack Obama's administration is in favour of the treaty but a number of lawmakers, including Republicans oppose the pact fearing it would limit their security options. "Our affirmative vote here is a sign of our unwavering commitment to a safer world in which nuclear technology is used solely for peaceful purposes and the risk of nuclear conflict is no more," Kerry said. Anti-treaty minded Republicans had rejected it under former US President Bill Clinton and congressional opposition remains strong till date. UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia said Moscow hoped the next president of the United States would be "more strident in his desire to ratify it." The UN's Comprehensive Test Ban Organisation has a network of monitoring stations. But it still cannot go on site to inspect for tests until the treaty enters into force. For that, the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear-capable" the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan must ratify. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UN Security Council adopts resolution on nuclear test ban, calls for quick enforcement of CTBT

North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date on Friday. The test, estimated at 10 kilotons, sparked international shockwaves. 
 
The North howeves says its weapons programme is only a defence against US nuclear &ldquo;blackmail&rdquo;.&nbsp; 
 
South Korea meanwhile said the nuclear threat from the North was growing fast and called for tough new sanctions from the UN Security Council to force it to change tack. 
 
&quot;It is believed that the North&#39;s nuclear capability is becoming more advanced to a considerable level, and at a faster pace,&quot; Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se told senior ministry officials, calling for &quot;more and stronger sanctions&quot;. 
 
During a closed-door meeting on Friday, the council strongly condemned the test and agreed to begin drafting a new resolution under Article 41 of the UN charter, which provides for sanctions. 
 
&quot;The members of the Security Council will begin to work immediately on appropriate measures under Article 41 in a Security Council resolution,&quot; New Zealand&#39;s ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told reporters. 
 
The blast at the Punggye-ri nuclear site was condemned by several countries including the South, US, Russia and China. 
 
In Seoul, dozens of protesters burned an effigy of the North&#39;s dictator Kim Jong-Un and called for &quot;strong retaliation&quot;, including pre-emptive attacks on the North&#39;s nuclear complex. 
 
&quot;Eliminate Kim Jong-Un!&quot; and &quot;Destroy North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons!&quot; the elderly activists shouted. 
 
But, North Korea has said it will not submit to US &quot;nuclear blackmail&quot;. 
 
The North&rsquo;s ruling party newspaper &nbsp;criticised South Korean President Park Geun-Hye over her condemnation of the North&#39;s ballistic missile tests and called her a &ldquo;dirty prostitute&rdquo; for working with US forces. 
 
&quot;Gone are the days never to return when the US could make a unilateral nuclear blackmail against the DPRK,&quot; said Rodong Sinmun, using the country&#39;s official name. 
 
&quot;The US is exasperated by the strong military steps being taken by the DPRK in a phased way.&quot; 
North Korea has been subject to sanctions since 2006 but the country has, nevertheless, continued to develop its nuclear programme. 
 
After its fourth test in March, sanctions were toughened to include North Korea&#39;s mineral trade and stricter banking restrictions. 
 
However, this did not stop the isolated communist state from conducting a further 21 ballistic missile launches. 
 
The Security Council met on Friday at the request of Japan, South Korea and the United States.&nbsp; 
 
(WION, with inputs from AFP)

The country conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date on Friday, sparking international shockwaves

North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test to date on Friday. The test, estimated at 10 kilotons, sparked international shockwaves. The North howeves says its weapons programme is only a defence against US nuclear “blackmail”. South Korea meanwhile said the nuclear threat from the North was growing fast and called for tough new sanctions from the UN Security Council to force it to change tack. "It is believed that the North's nuclear capability is becoming more advanced to a considerable level, and at a faster pace," Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se told senior ministry officials, calling for "more and stronger sanctions". During a closed-door meeting on Friday, the council strongly condemned the test and agreed to begin drafting a new resolution under Article 41 of the UN charter, which provides for sanctions. "The members of the Security Council will begin to work immediately on appropriate measures under Article 41 in a Security Council resolution," New Zealand's ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told reporters. The blast at the Punggye-ri nuclear site was condemned by several countries including the South, US, Russia and China. In Seoul, dozens of protesters burned an effigy of the North's dictator Kim Jong-Un and called for "strong retaliation", including pre-emptive attacks on the North's nuclear complex. "Eliminate Kim Jong-Un!" and "Destroy North Korea's nuclear weapons!" the elderly activists shouted. But, North Korea has said it will not submit to US "nuclear blackmail". The North’s ruling party newspaper criticised South Korean President Park Geun-Hye over her condemnation of the North's ballistic missile tests and called her a “dirty prostitute” for working with US forces. "Gone are the days never to return when the US could make a unilateral nuclear blackmail against the DPRK," said Rodong Sinmun, using the country's official name. "The US is exasperated by the strong military steps being taken by the DPRK in a phased way." North Korea has been subject to sanctions since 2006 but the country has, nevertheless, continued to develop its nuclear programme. After its fourth test in March, sanctions were toughened to include North Korea's mineral trade and stricter banking restrictions. However, this did not stop the isolated communist state from conducting a further 21 ballistic missile launches. The Security Council met on Friday at the request of Japan, South Korea and the United States. (WION, with inputs from AFP)

North Korea justifies nukes, says they are defence against US 'blackmail'