North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, poses with chiefs of branch social security stations in this undated picture released by North Korea’s official news agency on November 27, 2012. North Korea said Thursday that it plans to carry out a new nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches, all of which it said are a part of a new phase of confrontation with the United States.

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — “Troubling and counterproductive” rhetoric from North Korea is inflaming tensions on the Korean peninsula, but ultimately, “we will judge North Korea by its actions, not its words,” the U.S. envoy to North Korea said Friday.

In its latest bout of saber-rattling, North Korea on Friday warned of the possibility of “strong physical counter-measures” against South Korea after the United Nations imposed tougher sanctions against the North earlier this week.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/25/world/asia/north-korea-threat-south/index.html