North Korea warning: the US faces ‘pain and suffering’ if sanctions are approved

Reports from Pyongyang claim that the United States faces will face its greatest ever “pain and suffering” if sanctions, deemed as harsh by North Korea, are approved by the UN later today.

The foreign ministry in Pyongyang claimed that if the US “does rig up the illegal and unlawful resolution”, it will “make absolutely sure that the US pays due price”.

The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will "cause the US the greatest pain and suffering it had ever through in its entire history” said a statement that used the official name for the North.

Such strong rhetoric comes just hours before the UN Security Council members are due to meet, to decide on measures against Pyongyang, which were proposed by Washington.

The sanctions were drafted following the sixth and largest nuclear test carried out by North Korea last week.

The sanctions would see restrictions on the supply of oil into North Korea and effectively ban the nuclear-armed state’s overseas textiles trade; the country’s current greatest contributor to revenue income.

Other measures targeting overseas North Korean workers and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s assets will also be enforced.

However, the resolution requires unanimous backing from the UN security council, which consists of five permanent members, for it to be implemented.

U.S. United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Photo: ABC News

China agreed that “necessary measures” should be taken, but they are unlikely to back firm action, which could see the regime being toppled. As it stands, China is an economic lifeline for the state, providing almost all of North Korea’s oil through a pipeline that is running underneath the border.

Despite the possibility of the sanctions being imposed on North Korea, it appeared that there was a party atmosphere in the capital, as the country celebrated the 69th anniversary of its founding. Amongst events staged in Pyongyang, a gala was held in honour of scientists who helped to develop the bomb, where a video which purportedly showed the test, was played.