The United Nations passed sanctions against North Korea.

The UN Security Council has just approved sanctions against 14 individuals and four organizations of North Korea while the US announced that if necessary, it will respond in other ways.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (second from left) rejoices during a test launch in May 2017. Photo: AFP

AFP reported that on June 2, the council unanimously approved a draft resolution on sanctions against North Korea drafted by the US.

The sanctions include a suspected spy ring leader, 13 officials and four Pyongyang entities. These individuals will have their assets frozen and face a travel ban.

The sanctions list includes Cho Il U, who is believed to be in charge of overseas espionage operations and international intelligence gathering for the Kim Jong Un government.

The remaining thirteen include senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea and heads of trading companies tasked with procurement for Pyongyang's military program.

The four blacklisted organizations include Bank Koryo, two companies linked to the North Korean military and the country's military's Tactical Rocket Force.

The sanctions do not include some that the US administration imposed last month, such as an oil embargo, a maritime embargo, trade restrictions and curbs on the flow of North Korean workers abroad.

Before the addition of 18 individuals and entities, the UN blacklist imposed on North Korea had 39 individuals and 42 entities.

"The Security Council is sending a clear message to North Korea: Stop firing ballistic missiles or face the consequences," said US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley.

French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said the sanctions resolution was "a warning" to North Korea of ​​tougher sanctions if it did not change course and stop its test launches.

China, Pyongyang's ally, supports the sanctions but calls for dialogue to reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula.

China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi described the current tensions as "complicated and sensitive" but added that there was a "small but important opportunity" to return to "the right track of seeking solutions through dialogue and negotiation".

According to Tuoi Tre