North Korea v USA live: North Korea threatens to ‘end the US’ as UN sanctions hit regime
NORTH KOREA is threatening to ‘end the US’ as Donald Trump welcomes the single largest economic sanctions package ever on Kim Jong-un’s regime. Here are live updates and breaking news on North Korea v the USA.
Haley: UN sanctions on North Korea will be 'costly' to regime
- US ambassador to the UN hails the toughest sanctions in a generation
- North Korea warns the day it is ‘provoked means the end of the US
- Kim Jong-un’s latest missile have could hit mainland America, experts warn
Here are the latest threats, live updates and breaking news on Kim Jong-un's North Korea versus Donald Trump's America. (All times BST)
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Sunday August 6
10.50pm: North Korea vows to nuke US into ‘a sea of fire’
Kim Jong-un has vowed the US will be "catapulted into an unimaginable sea of fire" in his latest warning to the West.
North Korea’s latest threat is a clear sign that tensions are at an all-time high between the Hermit State and US, and that an all-out war could be days away.
8.30pm: US tells North Korea "We are not playing anymore"
Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, told Fox News: “It is time for North Korea to realise, we are not playing anymore.”
She added: “A third of their trade exports have been hit, and we basically gave them a kick in the gut with a billion dollars of sanctions that they are going to begin to feel right away.”
The UN resolution bans all North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also limits the number of North Koreans permitted to work abroad, and bars countries from entering into new joint ventures with North Korea or investing in current ones.
The resolution also adds nine people and four entities – including North Korea’s primary foreign exchange bank – to the UN blacklist.
5pm: China warns North Korea tensions nearing ’crisis point’
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has warned that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is nearing “crisis point”.
Mr Wang urged his North Korean counterpart against further missile tests and said sanctions were “necessary but not the end goal.”
He said the situation was “approaching a crisis point, and at the same time had become a turning point for returning to negotiations,” according to an account from China’s foreign affairs ministry.
3.40pm: Japan says it is time for “effective pressure” on North Korea
It is time to exert more "effective pressure" on Pyongyang rather than to pursuing dialogue, according to a Japanese foreign ministry spokesman.
Deputy foreign ministry spokesman Toshihide Ando said: "Now is not the time for dialogue but the time to increase effective pressure on North Korea so that they will take concrete actions towards de-nuclearisation.”
During a press conference in Manila, he welcomed the tougher sanctions on North Korea over its latest missile tests.
2.40pm: China recognises gravity of North Korea threat: US official
China's support for new UN sanctions on North Korea show Beijing recognises the gravity of the threat of Pyongyang's nuclear programme and missile tests, a top US official said.
It is important for all parties to have dialogue to de-escalate tensions and China must ensure that the sanctions on North Korea are fully implemented, said Susan Thornton, acting Assistant Secretary of State East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
Ms Thornton made the comments to reporters during an international meeting of foreign ministers in Manila.
1.30pm: China demands North Korea halts its defiance
China's foreign minister said new UN sanctions on North Korea were the right response to recent missile tests, but dialogue is vital to resolve the issue now at a "critical juncture".
Wang Yi told North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho that nuclear tests would only stoke tensions during a bilateral talks during a regional meeting in Manila.
He said: "We call on all sides to take a responsible attitude when making judgements and taking actions.
“Especially we need to avoid further escalation of the situation. We cannot do one and neglect the other.”
12.45am: North Korea threatens to ‘end the US’
North Korea’s state-run KCNA has issued another chilling warning after the US flew supersonic bombers over the peninsula last weekend.
Referring to the US fly past, the KCNA said: “The day the DPRK is provoked means the end of the US… This is our stern warning.”
The rant claimed the “US mainland is in striking range” after a successful intercontinental ballistic missile test at the end of July.
Noon: Donald Trump welcomes sanctions on North Korea
Donald Trump tweeted: “United Nations Resolution is the single largest economic sanctions package ever on North Korea. Over one billion dollars in cost to N.K.”
“The United Nations Security Council just voted 15-0 to sanction North Korea. China and Russia voted with us. Very big financial impact!”
11am US ambassador to the UN hails toughest sanctions in a generation
US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called the new sanctions “the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation’.
She said: "We should not fool ourselves into thinking we have solved the problem. Not even close. The North Korean threat has not left us, it is rapidly growing more dangerous…
"Further action is required. The United States is taking and will continue to take prudent defensive measures to protect ourselves and our allies.”
8am: UN imposes new sanctions on North Korea
The UN Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday that could slash by a third the Asian state's $3 billion annual export revenue over its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July.
The US-drafted resolution bans North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from increasing the current numbers of North Korean laborers working abroad, bans new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint ventures.