Washington, Mar. 8 : The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously for tough new sanctions to punish North Korea for its latest nuclear test.

Responding to the sanctions imposed, a furious Pyongyang threatened a nuclear strike against the United States.

The sanctions drafted by North Korea's closest ally, China, and the United States send a powerful message that the international community strongly condemned Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear tests, and repeated violations of Security Council resolutions, Fox News reports.

China's U. N. Ambassador Li Baodong said that adoption of the resolution itself is not enough, adding that they want to see full implementation of the resolution.

According to the report, immediately before the vote, an unidentified spokesman for Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said the North will exercise its right for `a preemptive nuclear attack to destroy the strongholds of the aggressors' because Washington is `set to light a fuse for a nuclear war'.

The White House responded by saying the U. S. is fully capable of defending itself against a North Korea ballistic missile attack.

The new sanctions resolution is the fourth against North Korea since its first nuclear test in 2006.

It has condemned the latest nuclear test `in the strongest terms' for violating and flagrantly disregarding council resolutions.

The sanctions have also further banned ballistic missile launches, nuclear tests `or any other provocation' and demanded that North Korea return to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

According to the report, but the resolution also stressed that the council's commitment `to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution' to North Korea's nuclear programme and urged a resumption of six-party talks.

The success of new sanctions could depend on enforcement by China, where most of the companies and banks that North Korea is believed to work with are based.

The resolution strengthens inspections of suspicious cargo heading to and from the country and calls on states to step up `vigilance' of possible illegal activity by North Korean diplomats.

The resolution also bans all countries from providing public financial support for trade deals, such as granting export credits, guarantees or insurance, if the assistance could contribute to the North''s nuclear or missile programmes, the report added. (ANI)