North Korea Threatens U.S. Ahead Of U.N. Sanctions Vote

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has threatened the United States with “pain and suffering” ahead of a Monday vote by the United Nations Security Council to impose strict sanctions against the hermit country:

The Security Council is due to vote in New York on a US-drafted resolution to impose new restrictions on the rogue state following its sixth and largest nuclear test, carried out just over a week ago.

“The DPRK is ready and willing to use any form of ultimate means,” the statement said, referring to the country by its acronym.

“The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the US the greatest pain and suffering it had ever gone through in its entire history.”

North Korea’s missile tests have grown increasingly bold in recent months. Last month, the communist country launched a missile over Japan, prompting the Japanese government to issue an alert urging people to “evacuate to a sturdy building or basement.”

Earlier this month, North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. Over the weekend, dictator Kim Jong-un held a gala in honor of the country’s nuclear scientists.

Despite the country’s threats and boasting, world leaders are supportive of stricter sanctions against North Korea. South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday that they agree with the U.S. in following a policy of “responding firmly (to) provocations through tough sanctions while leaving the door open for dialogue.”

Initially, the U.S. had called for “a full ban on oil exports to the country, and an immediate asset freeze on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his government for all financial assets held overseas, among other measures.”

However, the proposal has since been watered down in order to appease China and Russia. Winning the favor of China and Russia is crucial, as they both have veto power in the vote as permanent members of the Security Council.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also addressed the issue for the first time over the weekend. Macron said he spoke on the phone with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday to discuss the possibility of new sanctions. Merkel said that she would “immediately say yes” if Germany was asked to help end the crisis, and suggested an agreement similar to the Iran nuclear deal.

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