President Barack Obama has signed an executive order imposing new sanctions on North Korea, in response to the authoritarian regime's latest nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
The executive order follows North Korea's nuclear test on January 6 and ballistic missile launch on February 7, in violation of long-standing international talks aimed at curbing Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest announced the president's decision Wednesday.
Earnest said the unilateral action would allow the U.S. to implement sanctions unanimously agreed to by the U.N. Security Council.
"The U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Korea's illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligations," he said.
