DHAKA: US President Obama has signed new expanded sanctions on North Korea, after the country fired a test missile earlier this month.

The country has refused to stop its nuclear programme and the bill was easily passed by Congress, reports the BBC.

The sanctions cut off money North Korea needed to develop miniaturised nuclear warheads and long-range missiles.

The US and China are negotiating over a UN Security Council resolution on new sanctions.

China has said some of the measures could cripple North Korea's economy.

The bill also allows for $50m (£35m) supporting humanitarian programmes and transmitting radio broadcasts into North Korea.

North Korea recently fired a long-range rocket, which critics said was a test of banned missile technology.

State TV announced that North Korea had "successfully placed a satellite in orbit".

South Korea said it would begin discussing with the US the deployment of a missile defence system.

Analysts say Kim Jong-un is looking to appear powerful before his important Seventh Party Congress in May.

BDST: 0856 HRS, FEB 19, 2016
RS