Anchor: Tensions continue to rise between North Korea and the rest of the world as Kim Jong-un asserts his country’s nuclear capability and the UN seeks even stronger sanctions against the rogue regime. 
Our Park Jong-hong has the following report.  

Report: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says his country has emerged to pose a real nuclear threat to the United States, according to the North's official Korea Central News Agency(KCNA) on Friday. 

Speaking at the fifth Workers' Party cell chairs conference in Pyongyang the previous day, Kim reportedly said that the North has achieved the historic task of completing its nuclear force and urged the chairs to break down U.S. sanctions and do their best to realize the party's major tasks. 

Kim claimed that the North is faced with considerable challenges, but he's not discouraged or afraid, and instead is optimistic about the country's progress. 

The comment comes as tensions have increased over North Korea's nuclear program following its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM) on November 29th. 

In response to the ICBM test, the UN Security Council will reportedly vote on new sanctions on North Korea as early as Friday local time. 

Quoting a diplomatic source, Reuters said Thursday that the measures seek to slash nearly 90 percent of refined petroleum products exported to North Korea. 

The council imposed an annual cap of two million barrels in September, and the new resolution calls for a further reduction to 500-thousand barrels for next year. 

The draft resolution will also demand the repatriation of North Koreans working abroad within 12 months. 

It would ban exports to North Korea of industrial equipment, machinery, transportation vehicles and industrial metals. It would also add 19 new North Koreans to the UN sanctions blacklist. 

The U.S.-drafted text was reportedly circulated to the 15-member council on Thursday. 

China, which has veto power in the council, has been reluctant to make additional sanctions against North Korea. 
Park Jong-hong, KBS World Radio News.  

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