This morning, the United Nations Security Council voted for new sanctions against North Korea, which has been threatening increasing nuclear action. According to BBC, today's "resolution is targeting North Korean diplomats, cash transfers and access to luxury goods. It imposes asset freezes and travel bans on three individuals and two firms linked to North Korea's military."
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said, "The strength, breadth and severity of these sanctions will raise the cost to North Korea of its illicit nuclear program. Taken together, these sanctions will bite and bite hard." And China's ambassador to the U.N., Li Baodong, said, "This resolution is a very important step," saying it was "a reflection of the view and determination of the international community." China is considered North Korea's closest ally.
Last month, North Korea conducted a third round of nuclear tests, which defied earlier U.N. resolutions. North Korea issued a statement, "Since the United States is about to ignite a nuclear war, we will be exercising our right to preemptive nuclear attack against the headquarters of the aggressor in order to protect our supreme interest."
Rice said of the isolated country's claims, "North Korea will achieve nothing by continued threats and provocations."
