The North Korean nuclear standoff entered a new phase.
And it’s one that has the world on edge.
North Korea just issued a threat to Donald Trump that could mean the end of everything.
Donald Trump achieved a significant diplomatic victory when he convinced China and Russia to back a new round of sanctions against North Korea.
The 15-0 vote was a massive achievement and sent a message to the rogue nation that the world was united around the goal of ending their nuclear weapons program.
Even Trump’s critics hailed his victory.
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump . This vote is a genuine foreign policy achievement. https://t.co/eNQ0GU5uV7
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 5, 2017
The sanctions are expected to have up to a one billion dollar effect on North Korea’s economy.
For a communist nation that starves its own people, that is a significant hit.
North Korea reacted with fury.
Their government announced they would exact a “one thousand fold revenge” for the sanctions.
The Associated Press reported:
“North Korea vowed Monday to bolster its nuclear arsenal and launch “thousands-fold” revenge against the United States to respond to tough U.N. sanctions imposed after its intercontinental ballistic launches.
The North’s warning came two days after the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved new sanctions to punish the North including a ban on coal and other exports worth over $1 billion. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley called the U.S.-drafted resolution “the single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against” North Korea.
In a statement carried by state media, the North Korean government said the sanctions were a “violent infringement of its sovereignty” that was caused by a “heinous U.S. plot to isolate and stifle” North Korea.
It said the U.N. sanctions will never force the country to negotiate over its nuclear program or to give up its push to strengthen its nuclear capability. The North said it will take “action of justice” but didn’t elaborate.”
The sanctions were in response to North Korea successfully testing intercontinental ballistic missiles that had the capability of striking targets within the United States.
North Korea’s final step toward developing a nuclear weapon is to be cross the hurdle of being able to attach a warhead to an ICBM.
Experts worry that time is rapidly approaching.
So, did North Korea just threaten the United States with nuclear war?
And how far away are they from being able to act on their threat?
This threat is the biggest foreign policy crisis Donald Trump faces.
So far, he has handled it skillfully.
But will the time for diplomacy end if North Korea refuses to back down?
We will keep you updated on this developing story.
