President Trump wants the UN Security Council to back a new round of economic measures against the rogue state after its sixth and largest nuclear test this month.
However, last night the United States seemed to be ready to water down new sanctions to prevent Russia or China using their veto.
The US was thought to have dropped plans to call for a financial and travel ban on dictator Kim Jong-un or for an oil embargo.
But it was still pressing for a ban on textile exports to try to starve Kim of the cash needed for his nuclear programme.
Yesterday the foreign ministry spokesman of North Korea – officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – declared: “In case the US eventually does rig up the illegal and unlawful resolution on harsher sanctions, the DPRK shall make absolutely sure that the US pays due price.
“The world will witness how the DPRK tames the US gangsters by taking a series of actions tougher than they have ever envisaged.”
World leaders condemned Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test, but Russia’s president Putin does not favour an oil embargo.
And, ahead of negotiations at the UN, China – which is North Korea’s main ally and oil supplier – called for the world to show a united front.