North Korea vows to cancel Korean War cease-fire amid talk of new sanctions, continued U.S. military drills

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. / AP

SEOUL, South Korea North Korea is vowing to cancel the 1953 Korean War cease-fire because of sanctions and ongoing U.S.-South Korean joint military drills.

North Korea's Korean People's Army Supreme Command made the statement Tuesday amid reports that Washington and North Korean ally Beijing have approved a draft of punishing resolutions that is expected to be circulated among U.N. Security Council members this week.

North Korea's latest nuclear test on Feb. 12 was its third. The United States and others worry that North Korea is pushing closer toward its goal of having nuclear-armed missiles that can reach America.

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North Korea says its nuclear program is a response to U.S. hostility. The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula still technically in a state of war.

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How long will China back a defiant N. Korea?

The agreement between China and the U.S. on draft sanctions is seen as a sign of Beijing's disapproval of Pyongyang's behavior and will be welcomed in Washington.

It comes as U.S. lawmakers push for tougher U.S. financial restrictions on North Korea.

The U.N. Security Council announced late Monday evening that it will hold closed consultations on North Korea and non-proliferation on Tuesday.

U.N. diplomats told the Reuters news agency they hoped the council would vote on the resolution by the end of this week.

"I hope to see a draft (Tuesday) perhaps, but you know, it's up to the Americans," a diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

All 15 council members approved a press statement condemning Pyongyang's nuclear test and pledging further action just hours after the underground atomic blast on Feb. 12.

South Korea wanted the U.N. resolution to pass in February, when it held the Security Council presidency, CBS News' Pamela Falk reports from the U.N., "but a compromise proved difficult, and there still may be changes that dilute the draft when it goes to all the nations' leadership."

The course to take regarding North Korea still hangs on China's fear that, if North Korea were to collapse economically, a flood of refugees would head for China, diplomats at the UN tell CBS News.

But, Falk adds, the fact that China came to the table, again, to impose tougher sanctions, is a reflection of China's new leadership and an accumulated frustration with North Korea's intransigence with regard to its nuclear program."

For the last three weeks, the United States, a close ally of South Korea and Japan, has been negotiating the text of a new resolution with China

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-5]

While NK has the bulk of their military facing south along a 160 mile border, all China would have to do is walk in and affect "regime change" and start a path toward reunification that will benfit China. A stable, unfied Korea would be a more beneficial trading partner than NK will ever be.

[harley0-0]

God bless dennis rodman, he may be liberal and he may be a democrat howeve he has shown love and mercy towards the leaders of North Korea and it has worked. Meaningfull negotiations are under way.

[sandiegopete]

Gee, and I thought Dennis Rodman had straightened out the North Korea situation. I guess the Worm has turned.

[1history]

If they want the armistice ended why don't we just end it for them? SURPRISE!

[Blondghost]

Having served in Korea(1969 - 1970) during the 2nd Korean War (1966 -1969)I know that N. Korea is willing to violate the cease fire and has done so many times since 1953 resulting in dead and wounded Americans, S. Koreans, and N. Koreans.

I do not believe Kim is bluffing. He is a new leader and needs to establish his ability to lead - how? Missile launches, Nuclear weapons, and more violations of the Cease Fire Agreement.

[CuriousServant]

Thank you for your service. That was an unhappy, and ugly war (conflict) and I am grateful for your service.

[nubwaxer]

pull our troops out of south korea as a goodwill (cost saving) gesture.

[Rick6779]

Let China deal with him. They're drafting the sanctions. They should be able to stop any war activity....

[Blondghost]

The article says both the USA and China are negotiating the text of the resolution.

There is still a mutual defense treaty between USA and S. Korea. Also there are United Nations Peacekeepers in S. Korea to enforce the cease fire.

[OcQue]

Let's look at present politic situation of East and Southeast Asia. WW3 will break out soon.

[DiggumFrog]

Complete nonsense. North Korea is a starving nation, literally and figuratively. Their soldiers couldn't play a football game, let alone make war. If the North Koreans move even China will relent and defend the south. It would be a skull crushing unlike anything in modern history. This is just another of North Korea's puffing it's feathers and squawking really loud. Kim is a despot who wants to hang onto his authority and position of luxury. He has no desire to see that position end, let alone rule over a smoking pile. We will starve this nation to the brink and let it collapse internally. There will be no WWIII as started by south east asia, I promise you.

[Mathion]

If North Korea doesn't have China and Russia on its side in a war (as it did in the past), it will be a short war. Given the ease with which someone can fall for their own propaganda, it wouldn't surprise me if North Korea made good on its threats. It will be messy, but in the end, Korea will be unified again.

[nubwaxer]

short and incredibly costly in human life.

[TOZ1111]

Why Kim why free your people then come to the barganing table. I am sure you would goet more respect if you stop thinking you are god.