US President Obama signed a new law imposing sanctions against North Korea

The North’s potential move comes as South Korea has vowed to take bone-numbing measures against the North in response to Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

The law was passed by the US Congress on 12 February 2016 after North Korea refused to stop its nuclear programme.

The White House announced in a statement on Thursday that US President Barack Obama had signed a bill imposing new sanctions against Pyongyang. The sanctions also called for $50 million dollars to be invested in radio communications in North Korea, anti-terrorism programs within the region, and purchase of communication devices within North Korea.

Kim suggested that the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea is aimed at intercepting Russian and Chinese ballistic missiles that could be launched in retaliation against a possible US nuclear strike.

South Korea suspended the operation of a jointly run factory park in the North, closing what had been the last window of regular interaction born out of a summit meeting in 2000, when leaders pledged to work for peace and reconciliation.

On Feb. 7 North Korea launched a long-range rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite in what the outside world believes was a test of the country’s long-range missile technology.

“The shell apparently landed on the northern side of the sea border and there was no damage to us”, he said.

North Korea has repeatedly claimed that the drills are in preparation for a northward invasion.

The sanctions attempt to cut off funds needed by North Korea to develop miniaturised nuclear warheads.

The military said it was unlikely that there were any more crucial parts left to be found in South Korean seas.

In parallel to those unilateral moves, the U.N. Security Council is now debating a fresh resolution to impose harsher sanctions on North Korea.