Obama signs North Korea sanctions

South Korea closed down the inter-Korean industrial zone in the North Korean border city of Kaesong earlier this month in response to North Korea’s moves.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula exploded into a wild war of words Saturday as North Korea unleashed a particularly colorful onslaught against its southern neighbor.

Earnest said the White House hoped the sanctions will “serve to increase pressure on North Korea”.

On Feb. 11, North Korea expelled South Korean workers from a jointly run factory park after the South had pulled out as punishment for the rocket launch and nuclear test and because of claims that the North had diverted USA funds for the workers to its weapons program.

President Barack Obama signed the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act, which enacts mandatory sanctions the country into law on Thursday, but his administration has turned a “blind eye” to the North Korean threat while focusing attention on the Middle East, said Gardner.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also said in a Friday briefing that it’s important that sanctions do not exacerbate the humanitarian condition of the North Korean people.

A former security minister of North Korea has replaced the head of the North Korean military, who is presumed to have recently been executed, according to the North’s state media on Sunday. Seoul has also started preparatory talks with Washington on deploying a sophisticated missile defense system in South Korea, angering Beijing and Moscow, who feel they could be targeted by such a system as well. It is unclear, however, how badly this could hurt the North.

Experts say any new measures against North Korea need the backing of China, the North’s last major political ally and by far its largest trade partner.

Rebuild the U.S. Navy – Along with imposing sanctions, Cruz suggests beefing up the United States Navy by increasing funding for protection.

In a survey conducted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul shortly after the North’s third nuclear test in 2013, 66.5 per cent of respondents supported a homegrown nuclear program.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea has warned of a terror attack.