North Korea said on Sunday a push for further sanctions following its fifth and biggest nuclear test was “laughable,” and vowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear power.
The isolated state on Friday set off its most powerful nuclear explosion to date, saying it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile, ratcheting up a threat that its rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain.
A US special envoy met with Japanese officials on Sunday and said later the United States may launch unilateral sanctions against North Korea, echoing comments by US President Barack Obama on Friday in the wake of the test.
“The group of Obama’s running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable, when their ‘strategic patience’ policy is completely worn out and they are close to packing up to move out,” state-run KCNA news agency cited a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying in a statement later on Sunday.
“As we’ve made clear, measures to strengthen the national nuclear power in quality and quantity will continue to protect our dignity and right to live from augmented threats of nuclear war from the United States,” KCNA added.
Earlier, the South’s Yonhap news agency reported South Korea’s military had a plan to use its missiles to “decimate” areas of Pyongyang if there were signs the North was about to launch a nuclear attack, quoting a source in the military.
The South’s Defense Ministry could not immediately confirm the report, but the military has vowed to take strong actions to retaliate in the event of an attack by the North.
The North has yet to demonstrate that it had deployed nuclear-capable missiles, despite claims to have mastered the technology to miniaturise a nuclear warhead to mount it on ballistic missiles.
The defiant North Korea restated its demand for recognition as a “legitimate” nuclear-armed state, as world powers pondered ways to punish Pyongyang for its latest and largest atomic test.The UN Security Council denounced North Korea’s decision to carry out the test and said it would begin work immediately on a resolution. The United States, Britain and France pushed for the 15-member body to impose new sanctions.
Source: Arab News
GMT 16:35 2018 Friday ,19 January
Iran, North Korea ‘threaten regional and even global stability’GMT 12:42 2018 Friday ,12 January
The Iranians message is clear, change the regimeGMT 18:21 2018 Monday ,01 January
North Korea leader says ‘nuclear launch button on his desk’GMT 20:03 2017 Sunday ,31 December
UN’s Guterres issues year-end ‘red alert’ for a world dividedGMT 17:58 2017 Sunday ,24 December
North Korea says new UN sanctions an act of warMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©