North Korea's second test of a nuclear weapon early last week gives added weight to President Barack Obama's sanctions might be. South Korea also formalized its involvement in the Bush Administration's Proliferation Security Initiative, a tool by which countries can interdict the transport of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear materials, after being an observer since the program's inception in 2003. In response, North Korea threatened "a powerful military strike" against any countries that attempt to board its ships for inspections. "There is a wide recognition in the Security Council, and, indeed, more broadly, that North Korea is on a path that is isolating itself even further, that doesn't serve their own interests nor the interests of the region," said Susan Rice, the United States' permanent representative to the United Nations. "If they want to continue to test and provoke the international community, they're going to find that they will pay a price because the international community is very clear. This is not acceptable. It won't be tolerated and they won't be intimidated."
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