US warns of tougher UN sanctions bid if North Korea tests nuclear arms

The United States has warned that it will try to toughen UN sanctions if North Korea tests nuclear arms.

The United States warned Tuesday that it will try again to toughen UN sanctions if North Korea tests a nuclear weapon, after a bid last week was vetoed by China and Russia.

Asked if the United States would make a new attempt at the Security Council if North Korea goes ahead with a feared nuclear test, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "Absolutely we will."

"First of all we need to enforce the sanctions that we have already authority to enforce," she told reporters.

"And we certainly, as we attempted in this last resolution, will push for additional sanctions," she said.

US intelligence has said that North Korea appears to be preparing its first nuclear test since 2017, although it did not go ahead during a visit to the region earlier in May by President Joe Biden.

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The United States on Thursday forced a vote at the Security Council on toughening sanctions after North Korea carried out a series of rocket launches including, according to US and South Korean officials, of an intercontinental ballistic missile.