already strapped regime's economy, banks or military. the u.s. has now reached out to china and asked for cooperation, but what exactly that would look like, u.s. officials decline to say. what has been stated in no uncertain terms at the highest levels is that options against north korea are being weighed as we speak. >> they cause a lot of damage and we will response. we will respond proportionally. we will respond in a place and time and manner that we choose. >> reporter: so while this is going on, today in an unprecedented move, the u.n. city council will take on north korea's dismal human rights records, looking at the referral to the criminal court for crimes against humanity. chris. >> michelle, thank you very much with the reporting. appreciate it. let's go to christine romans. >> a lot going on, a veteran