North Korea has threatened to fight back if new sanctions were to be put into place following their latest nuclear test. 

North Korea conducted their sixth and most powerful nuclear test last Sunday, which included a seismic event of 6.1 magnitude at their nuclear test site. 

The international community has acted against this test, with South Korea and the United States removing the limit on payload of South Korea missiles, South Korea strengthening ties with Russia for denuclearisation, and South Korea holding naval live-fire drills in the East Sea. 

In addition, international demand for stronger measures to maximise possible pressure on North Korea to change course has followed.   

Countries such as Australia has taken part of the pressure, through their full implementation of United Nation Security Council sanctions. 

“We are committed to the path of diplomatic and economic pressure to resolve this crisis. We will continue to work with our ally and partners to change North Korea’s behaviour and deter it from threatening the region and the world with illegal weapons,” Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said. 

However, North Korea has responded with a vow to “respond with our own mode of counteroffensive” to any fresh sanctions that may be placed. 

“No one has the right to make a fuss about our test of H-bomb for ICBM as it is a routine and indispensable process for the implementation of the strategic line that we have chosen for ourselves,” the North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said. 

The spokesman added they will “respond to the heinous sanctions and pressure of the U.S. with our own mode of counteroffensive and the U.S. shall be held totally responsible for all catastrophic consequences to follow”.