The U.S. has warned North Korea of a strong punishment if it conducts a nuclear test, as Washington and a United Nations’ watchdog agency have said signs indicate Pyongyang could soon set off its first atomic device since 2017.
"There would be a swift and forceful response to such a test,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in Seoul on Tuesday.
"Any nuclear tests would be in complete violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions,” she said, adding it "would be very destabilizing to the world security.” Sherman didn’t elaborate on specific measures but suggested the U.S. could work with its allies to levy punishments.