(Courtesy Vice)

North Korean officials have announced that they will no longer respect nonaggression agreements with South Korea, according to the New York Times.

The announcement comes in response to the United Nations Security Council's unanimous vote to increase sanctions against North Korea. The sanctions were in turn a response to North Korea's recent threat to carry out pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the U.S., turning Washington, "the stronghold of American imperialists and the nest of evil, and its followers, into a sea of fire."

SEE ALSO: North Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike Against U.S.

A North Korean Soldier (Bryanna Poulin via Wikimedia Commons)

South Korea's new president Park Geun-Hye responded firmly to threats from the North, saying, "I will deal strongly with North Korea's provocations," the Wall Street Journal reported.

Pyongyang's decision to nullify peace agreements with South Korea comes after a week of heightened rhetoric from leader Kim Jong Un and other officials. 

SEE ALSO: North Korea Repeats Threat

For an analysis of North Korea's military capabilities, go here.

For a look at Kim Jong Un's leadership thus far, go here.

See Desmond Tutu's opinion piece on nuclear weapons here.

For more Neon Tommy coverage of North Korea, go here.

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