N. Korea to boost war capability amid new US sanctions

STORY: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the military's readiness to respond to “any provocation by enemies”, state media said on Friday, coming as the United States slapped fresh sanctions against the isolated country, following its launch of a spy satellite last week. Photographs released by the KCNA news agency showed Kim visiting the air force headquarters on Thursday. It said he also rolled out operational strategic guidelines to improve the military's readiness and war capabilities. On Thursday, the U.S. unveiled new sanctions targeting foreign-based agents it accused of helping Pyongyang evade other sanctions. Their U.S. assets will be frozen and Americans barred from dealing with them. In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the joint efforts with Australia, Japan and South Korea “reflect our collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang's illicit and destabilizing activities.” The Treasury also sanctioned cyber espionage group Kimsuky, accusing it of gathering intelligence to support the North’s strategic and nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Seoul said on Friday, it had blacklisted 11 North Koreans for their involvement in their country’s satellite and missile development, banning them from any financial transactions. Earlier this week, U.S. and North Korean diplomats had a rare direct, public exchange at a UN Security Council meeting, with both arguing their countries’ military activities are defensive. Pyongyang later called the U.S. “double-faced” for offering talks while ramping up military activities in the region, according to state media. North Korea's UN mission in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest sanctions.