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Obama vows to tighten sanctions on North Korea after missile launch

There are few options left, short of cutting off the power supplies – in effect, turning off the lights in North Korea.

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Pyongyang likely wanted to show the world that strong global sanctions following its fourth nuclear test and long-range rocket launch earlier this year haven’t discouraged its efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and missiles programs, according to Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University.

The South’s President Park Geun-Hye spoke out against the “maniacal recklessness” of Kim, who since taking control after the death of his father in 2011 has carried out a series of purges and weapons tests created to show strength and consolidate power.

In addition, according to the resolution, United Nations member states’ banks can not trade with North Korean banks identified as the financiers of nuclear programs and Pyongyang’s missiles program.

“Such provocation will eventually hasten its path to self-destruction”.

Some Korean observers say that because Kim Jong Un’s regime seeks to derive its legitimacy by being a full-fledged nuclear state, no amount of financial squeeze will stop him. But this latest incident could add pressure to the relationship. Earthquakes triggered by North Korean nuclear tests have gradually increased in magnitude since Pyongyang’s first test in 2006, indicating the isolated country is steadily improving the destructive power of its nuclear technology.

Carter said China “shares important responsibility for this development”, referring to Friday’s nuclear test.

She reiterated Beijing’s commitment to resolving disputes on the Korean Peninsula through dialog, calling for its Pyongyang to refrain from unilateral action that could worsen the situation.

Six months after those sanctions, North Korea is only increasing its missile launches and test frequency. He was also photographed inspecting a missile nosecone. She also spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowing close coordination.

On Tuesday, North Korea fired three medium-range Rodong missiles that traveled about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed near Japan.

Obama reaffirmed, as he has done repeatedly following North Korean ballistic missile launches, the U.S. commitment to “take necessary steps to defend our allies in the region”, namely South Korea and Japan. It was Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test.

The North’s state TV said the test “examined and confirmed” the design of a nuclear warhead intended for placement on a ballistic missile.

“We want to make sure we’re cutting off all the lifelines that North Korea tries to grab on to”, said deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes.

“This defiance of the worldwide law norms and the world community’s opinion deserves the strongest condemnation”, a statement from the Russian foreign ministry read.

Boosting means North Korean scientists can get more explosive yield out of a smaller amount of fissile material, stretching their small stockpile of plutonium further, getting more bang for their buck. “There’s enough negative to tip things over to people taking some profits there”, said Eric Kuby, chief investment officer at North Star Investment Management Corp.in Chicago.

North Korea has been testing different types of missiles at an unprecedented rate this year, and the capability to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile is especially worrisome for its neighbours South Korea and Japan.

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The United Nations will discuss its next move at a meeting Friday. It will raise serious worries in many world capitals that Pyongyang has moved another step closer to its goal of a nuclear-armed missile that could one day strike the US mainland.

Chinese paramilitary policemen stand outside the entrance to the North Korean embassy in Beijing