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The Council of the European Union said it had extended an asset freeze and travel restrictions to nine individuals and four organisations including the government-owned Foreign Trade Bank.

Similar sanctions were already imposed on 62 individuals and 50 organisations.

The latest move brings the EUs punitive measures against North Korea in line with a new United Nations Security Council resolution toughening sanctions against the Kim Jong-uns regime.

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The EU has implemented all UN Security Council resolutions adopted in response to the DPRKs nuclear and nuclear weapons

EU Council spokesman

The Council of the EU has also singled out a further 41 individuals and seven organisations for to face extra measures.

A spokesman said: The EU has implemented all UN Security Council resolutions adopted in response to the DPRKs nuclear and nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.

Tensions have been running high since Pyongyang warned it would fire missiles at Guam in response to US President Donald Trumps threat that North Koreas aggression would be met with fire and fury.

North Korea says a plan that could see it fire four missiles near the US territory of Guam will be ready in a matter of days.

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State media said Hwasong-12 rockets would pass over Japan and land in the sea about 17 miles from Guam, if the plan was approved by Kim.

It denounced Donald Trump's warnings as "a load of nonsense" and said the US leader was "bereft of reason".

It said: "Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him.

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North Korea State Media

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The US has told the North its actions could mean the "end of its regime".

US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis warned Pyongyang would be "grossly overmatched" in any war against the US and its allies.

He said: While our state department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means, it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now possess the most precise, rehearsed and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth.

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