UN approves fresh North Korea sanctions

NEW YORK (AA) – The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday approved new sanctions against North Korea in response to its dogged nuclear activities.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the unanimous resolution, praising "strong action" by the Council on "one of the most enduring and pressing peace and security challenges of our time".

Ban said the Council had to meet on nine occasions this year in response to the isolated autocratic nation's nuclear escalations.

Since January, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and at least 25 launches using ballistic missiles, Ban noted.

Reacting to the decision later Wednesday, spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House hopes the sanctions would apply "the necessary pressure to get them to change their behavior.

"I think that this certainly represents a substantial escalation in pressure on the North Korean regime, and hopefully it will lead to the kind of changes that we'd like to see. Is there room to go further? I'm sure there always is," Earnest said.

North Korea carried out the most powerful test of its 10-year nuclear campaign in September, causing a 5.3-magnitude seismic shock at its Punggye-ri testing site.