The EU adopted reinforced sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and weapons tests, in line with a UN resolution.

EU foreign ministers passed without discussion a move to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1874 "in a robust way as requested" by EU leaders at a summit last month, a statement said.

In addition to the UN sanctions, the EU decided on the "autonomous listing of items subject to export ban, autonomous listing of persons and entities subject to travel ban and asset freeze, enhanced financial vigilance and reinforced cargo inspections".

North Korea quit six-party talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programme after the security council censured it for a long-range rocket launch in April. In May Pyongyang also staged its second nuclear test.

The council has since imposed tougher sanctions, including an expanded arms embargo and beefed up inspections of air, sea and land shipments going to and from North Korea.

A travel ban has also been imposed on North Korean officials suspected of involvement in the country's nuclear and missile programmes.

The US has urged the international community to continue to pressure North Korea to return to the talks - made up of the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia.