United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated that Washington will vigorously impose new United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

The new sanctions were agreed to on Friday, when the country was denounced in the UN.

Pyongyang said on Saturday it would respond to the sanctions by immediately beginning a uranium enrichment program to ready itself with nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council approved a resolution that bans all weapons exports from North Korea and most arms imports into the state.

It authorised UN member states to inspect North Korean sea, air and land cargo, in order to seize goods intended to break the embargo.

Ms Clinton later said the sanctions had provided a tremendous statement that North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons would not be accepted by its neighbours or the greater international community.

She said the United States would work with other countries to enforce the provisions.