North Korea Warns that More Sanctions Will Accelerate Its Nuclear Program

North Korea warns that more sanctions and pressure will only make it accelerate its nuclear program.

In a strongly worded statement, North Korea called a new set of UN sanctions “the most vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility”.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart committed to “maximizing pressure” on North Korea through vigorous enforcement of UN resolutions.

Earlier, the US and South Korea carried out joint military exercises.

North Korea fired its latest missile over Japan on September 15. It traveled 2,300 miles, putting the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has a plan to target, within reach.

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The launch followed a fresh round of UN sanctions and was unanimously condemned by the UN Security Council as “highly provocative”.

The foreign ministry statement, carried by North Korea’s official news agency KCNA, said: “The increased moves of the US and its vassal forces to impose sanctions and pressure on the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] will only increase our pace towards the ultimate completion of the state nuclear force.”

North Korea also said that the goal of the new UN sanctions, approved on September 11, was to “physically exterminate” the country’s people, system and government.

The sanctions are an attempt to starve North Korea of fuel and income for its weapons programs, and restrict oil imports and ban textile exports.

The fresh measures followed the sixth and most powerful nuclear test conducted by North Korea earlier this month.

However, some critics have raised questions over the effectiveness of the restrictions, as North Korea is still able to trade internationally.

North Korea’s commerce with China, its main ally, was partially responsible for an estimated economic growth of 3.9% in 2016, Bloomberg news agency reports.

The issue of North Korea’s weapons program is expected to dominate President Donald Trump’s address at the UN General Assembly and his meetings with the leaders of South Korea and Japan.

President Trump previously warned that “all options” were on the table and that North Korea would face “fire and fury” if it continued to threaten the US.

In a phone call on September 18, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed to “maximizing pressure on North Korea through vigorous enforcement” of UN Security Council resolutions, the White House said.

Russia has also criticized what it describes as “aggressive rhetoric” from the US.

China and Russia only agreed to the new UN sanctions after they were softened by Washington.