France says pressure needed to stop North Korea crossing next nuclear hurdle

PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Wednesday it was imperative the United Nations Security Council apply more pressure on North Korea to prevent it jumping another hurdle towards an effective nuclear weapons capacity that could lead to a dangerous military escalation.

Amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula, North Korea has escalated a war of words with the United States, warning of full-out nuclear war if Washington takes military action against it over its nuclear and missile ambitions.