North Korea warns US of 'greatest pain and suffering' ahead of UN vote

Pyongyang has warned the United Nations of a potentially violent response if it was to approve proposals from Washington for heavier sanctions against the rogue nation after it conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date.

Kim Jong-un's Workers' Party of Korea is "closely following the moves of the US with vigilance" according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

A statement published by the news agency on Monday read, "In case the US eventually does rig up the illegal and awful 'resolution' on harsher sanctions, the DRPK shall make absolutely sure that the US pays a due price."

"The forthcoming measures to be taken by the DPRK will cause the greatest pain and suffering it had gone through in its entire history," continued the statement by the country's ministry of foreign affairs.

The warning came after the US had called for a UN vote on Monday in effort to tighten sanctions against North Korea which, despite previous sanctions and explicit warnings from the UN, had continued to conduct tests on nuclear capable missiles and bombs as it looked to increase the range of its weapons, giving it the ability to potentially strike the US mainland.

Kim Jong-un held a lavish banquet on Saturday to celebrate his scientists and technicians who had developed Pyongyang's last test on 3 September, saying their efforts had brought about the "final goal of completing the state nuclear force."

According to Bloomberg, the US was said to be willing to risk its proposals being vetoed altogether instead of seeing them watered down.

The proposals which include, a ban on oil imports, textile exports, employment of its citizens in other countries and a freezing of Kim's assets, could be vetoed by China and Russia, both of which have the ability to veto any UN measures and had previously expressed scepticism that tougher sanctions would stop the North's attempts at nuclear proliferation.

China had allegedly already begun suspending accounts held by North Korean's as its foreign minister Wang Yi said Beijing would be open further sanctions if it helped to open a dialogue with North Korea.