Seoul: South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday warned North Korea of facing harsher sanctions unless it abandons its nuclear weapons programme, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea has long been under an array of US and international sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

However, the country has rejected repeated international calls to give up its nuclear programme, viewing it as a powerful deterrent against what it claims is the US's hostile policy against it.

"International sanctions on North Korea will become harsher as long as it does not give up its nuclear programme, which in turn could eventually heighten the instability of the North Korean regime," Park said.

She also urged North Korea to come forward for dialogue as she vowed to step up efforts to resume talks.

The two Koreas last held high-level talks in February 2014.

(IANS)