So how have the major players in the region reacted to the latest sanctions and what was the immediate fallout?
For more on this, we now connect live to our Kim Ji-yeon standing by at the news center.
Ji-yeon. let's start with the target of the strengthened sanctions, North Korea.
They are none to pleased with the council's decision.

That's an understatement, Ji-hae.
Shortly after the UN Security Council unanimously approved the new resolution for tougher sanctions on North Korea
Pyongyang threatened to cut all direct communication channels with South Korea.
The state's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, said earlier today that it will cease all direct phone calls with the South at the border town of Panmunjom .
North Korea also threatened to scrap the non-aggression pact it signed with the South in 1991, which aims to prevent armed confrontations between the two countries, and also seeks a peaceful reunification.
The Unification Ministry expressed its regret over Pyongyang's response and said the North should stand by our formal agreements and move forward in trust-building steps.

In the days leading up to latest UN announcement, North Korea had threatened to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the U.S. and vowed to nullify the cease-fire agreement on the Korean Peninsula.
What actions can we anticipate to follow these words?

Local experts here in South Korea do expect that the North will conduct some sort of provocation on the Korean Peninsula.
Over the past few days, Pyongyang has been publicly denouncing the Key Resolve exercises that will be conducted jointly by South Korea and the U.S. starting Monday.
Korea's defense ministry warned Pyongyang on Friday that if it interferes with the 10-day military drill in any way, they can expect a strong and swift punitive response.

Reporter : jiyeonkim@arirang.co.kr