North Korea vows to make US ‘pay dearly’ for new UN sanctions

North Korea has vowed to retaliate the latest round of sanctions approved by the United Nations (UN) and championed by the United States.

According to a North Korean state media, Pyongyang condemned the action describing it as a “flagrant violation of its sovereignty”.

The UN security council had unanimously adopted new sanctions on Saturday in response to Pyongyang’s long-range ballistic missile tests on July 4 and July 28.

The measures were aimed to make it harder for North Korea to make money across the globe.

They target North Korea’s primary exports including coal, iron and seafood; the UN also made attempt to cut off its additional revenue streams by targeting some of its banks and joint ventures with foreign companies.

Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum on Monday, North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong Ho said Pyongyang’s “possession of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles is a legitimate option for self-defence.

He added: “We will, under no circumstances, put the nukes and ballistic rockets on the negotiating table.”

Ri said North Korea would “teach the US a severe lesson” if it resorts to the use of military force.

In a separate statement released through its permanent mission to the United Nations, North Korea described the United States as being “desperate”.

The US was accused of “trying to drive the situation of the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war, running amuck to conduct missile drill against the DPRK and deploying massive strategic equipment to the peninsula.

“North Korea will make the US pay dearly for all the heinous crimes it commits against the state and people of this country.”