North Korea v USA live: Kim Jong-un threatens �powerful� nuclear strike on US � latest
KIM JONG-UN has threatened to hit �the heart of the US� with a nuclear strike, while American officials have predicted that North Korea will stage a missile test as early as tomorrow. Here is the latest news and live updates.
- North Korea has threatened the US with a nuclear strike.
- Kim Jong-un is said to be plotting a fresh missile test for as early as tomorrow.
- The US House of Representatives has voted to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang.
11.25am: North Korea threatens US with �nuclear hammer�
North Korea has warned of a nuclear strike on �the heart of the US� if it attempts to remove Kim Jong-un from power.
Pyongyang mouthpiece KCNA reported that the North Korean Foreign Ministry said: "The DPRK legally stipulates that if the supreme dignity of the DPRK is threatened, it must preemptively annihilate those countries and entities that are directly or indirectly involved in it, by mobilising all kinds of strike means including the nuclear ones."
"Should the US dare to show even the slightest sign of attempt to remove our supreme leadership, we will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer, honed and hardened over time.�
The threat comes after CIA Director Mike Pompeo suggested that he was �hopeful� of finding a way to separate Kim from his nuclear arsenal.
"The North Korean people I'm sure are lovely people and would love to see him go,� he added.
1.15pm: Kim Jong-un will not start war, says ex-Senator
Kim Jong-un is �not a nutcase�, said former US Senator Max Baucus.
Speaking to CNBC, Mr Baucus said: "People say he's a nut case. He's not. He's very calculating. He's very smart. He's playing all this very, very well. He's not going to push the button because then he's gone.�
He added: "There's not going to be a war. There can't be a war.�
Mr Baucus was the US Ambassador to China under President Barack Obama between 2014 and 2017.
11.00am: US votes for new North Korea sanctions
The US House of Representatives has voted almost unanimously to impose new sanctions on North Korea, Russia and Iran.
The bill was backed by both Republicans and Democrats 419-3, and also includes a measure which could force President Donald Trump to seek permission form the House before easing any deterrents.
House members added in the North Korea sanctions, which passed by 419-1 in May, to the bill after becoming frustrated with the Senate�s failure to advance the measure.
The combined package must now pass the Senate before it goes to the White House for approval, but could face obstacles.
GETTYSome Senators are unhappy with the inclusion of the Korea sanctions.
"The only language we agreed to was Iran and Russia. So adding North Korea on, I just don't know how we're going to deal with it yet," said Republican Senator Bob Corker.
"The better route would have been to send over what had been agreed to."
If the upper house approves the bill, there is no guarantee that Mr Trump will sign it into law.
"He's going to study that legislation and see what the final product looks like," press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
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