North Korea's Reaction to the Approval of New UN Sanctions

Two days after the approval of a new round of sanctions against North Korea by the United Nations, Pyongyang condemned these sanctions in an official statement and threatened to double its efforts to enhance its capabilities. The UN Security Council on Monday, September 11, intensified sanctions against Pyongyang in response to North Korea's sixth nuclear test. These sanctions target North Korea's textile exports and crude oil imports, with textile exports amounting to $760 million annually. This is the ninth sanctions resolution against North Korea since 2006. Over the years, North Korea has developed its nuclear and missile programs while ignoring Security Council resolutions. The new sanctions were approved after North Korea confirmed on September 3 that it had conducted its sixth nuclear test. A strong earthquake had been recorded in North Korea prior to this action, reportedly occurring at ground level. Japan announced at that time that the earthquake was at least ten times stronger than North Korea's last test. Some reports indicated that the power of North Korea's latest nuclear test was equivalent to '16 times' the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in Japan in 1945. In response to these new sanctions, Pyongyang's government promised on Wednesday, September 13, to accelerate its weapons program and activities. North Korea also labeled the new Security Council sanctions as 'malicious and illegal' and condemned them 'in the strongest terms.' In reaction to North Korea's latest test, Washington sought a complete oil embargo against the country and aimed to freeze all accounts and assets of its leader abroad, but withdrew this demand after opposition from China and Russia. Nevertheless, following the approval of the sanctions, the U.S. President threatened that these new sanctions were merely a small and preliminary step and 'are not comparable to what is ultimately going to happen.' According to the new Security Council sanctions, trade in textiles with North Korea is banned, the transfer of natural gas to the country is cut off, more than two million barrels of refined oil cannot be delivered to the country annually, and the maximum transfer of crude oil remains at the current level. The new UN sanctions resolution also prohibits countries from issuing work permits for North Korean workers abroad. According to statistics provided by the United States, about 100,000 North Korean workers residing abroad generate more than $500 million annually for the country.