The United Nation Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution to increase sanctions against North Korea, measures that were considered by many to be the toughest in two decades. Last week, the United States, with China’s backing, had submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council after Pyongyang conducted forbidden nuclear tests and fired a long-range missile earlier this year.

The sanctions will mean that all cargo going to and from the country will be inspected. The resolution also provides that any suspicious ship from the country can barred from international ports, and that there will be an embargo on the supply of arms as well as aviation and rocket fuel to the country.

"Today, the international community, speaking with one voice, has sent Pyongyang a simple message: North Korea must abandon these dangerous programmes and choose a better path for its people," said US President Barack Obama, according to the BBC.

However, hours after the sanctions were adopted, South Korea reported that North Korea had fired several short-range projectiles into the sea. The launch also came shortly after South Korea approved its first-ever legislation on human rights in North Korea. The moderate law aims mainly to fund civil activist groups in North Korea and create an official archive to track and detail rights abuses there. North Korea had warned of action if such a Bill was passed.