Sanctions, Nuclear Tests | featured news

The United States is ready to hold talks with North Korea if the conditions are right but will also press U.N. sanctions to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile tests, a senior envoy for Asia said on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang on Monday to condemn the U.N. rebuke of the country's latest nuclear test amid concern the communist regime could conduct another one.

The North Korean government says it intends to weaponize its remaining stockpile of plutonium and to pursue uranium enrichment despite the latest U.N. sanctions resolution.

The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously approved expanded sanctions and a trade and arms embargo against North Korea over its May 25 nuclear test.

The permanent members of the Security Council have approved a draft resolution that expands export limits and financial restrictions, diplomats said.