U.S. diplomat warns DPRK of tougher consequences

A top U.S. diplomat has warned DPRK of dire consequences if it continues to arm itself with nuclear weapons, according to the Chosunilbo.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel told reporters in Washington D.C. on Wednesday that Kim will "immediately die" if he decides to equip his country with weapons advanced enough to launch a nuclear strike.

"Perhaps he's got an enhanced capacity to conduct a nuclear attack and then immediately die. But that can't be plan A," Russel said.

The warning comes amid calls from several senior U.S. figures for a preemptive strike on DPRK's nuclear and missile facilities.

Russel said DPRK's argument that it needs nuclear weapons to deter a U.S. invasion is "absurd." Instead, developing nuclear weapons only reduces the safety sought by the DPRK's leader while isolating his country even further within the international community.

Russel a day earlier said he is confident the UN will make "significant" progress on tougher sanctions against DPRK over its nuclear program.

"We won't know how far we will get... but we know there will be a new Security Council resolution and I have great confidence that it will represent a significant ratcheting forward of the sanctions and the constraints on DPRK," he said.

(THE CHOSUNILBO)