North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a chilling threat to the West as he claimed the security of the Korean peninsula is being threatened.
The president of the hermit country vowed to continue with the testing of weapons – including nuclear arms – in response to the recent decision by the US to enhance its security commitment to South Korea.
According to North Korean state media, Mr Kim said: “The present unstable situation in which the security environment on the Korean peninsula is being seriously threatened by the hostile forces every moment.
“(That) requires more intense efforts to implement the line of bolstering nuclear war deterrent.”
Mr Kim also pledged to undertake a “series of stronger military offensive” until the US and South Korea “admit their shameful defeat of their useless hostile policy toward (North Korea) in despair and give up their policy”.
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This statement comes as Mr Kim oversaw the second test flight of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which state media claimed has been designed to strike the mainland United States.
While this missile showed it can travel a length sufficient to reach the States, some experts believe North Korea still hasn’t completely perfected functioning nuclear-armed missiles.
This launch was described by Mr Kim as “another important stride” in his efforts to boost the country’s strategic forces.
The Hwasong-18 was first test-fired in April and has been hailed by the North Korean leader as his country’s most powerful nuclear weapon.
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The threat posed by the ICBM appears to be particularly significant, as its built-in solid propellant makes it more difficult for the missile to be detected in advance when compared to liquid-fuelled weapons.
The second launch of the Hwasong-18 was immortalised with photographs shared by state media, and show a black and white missile rising from the ground as it leaves behind a plume of smoke and fire.
Mr Kim attended the event in person, and was pictured clapping his hands with glee following the successful launch – which saw the missile flying for 74 minutes across a 1,001 distance at a maximum altitude of 6,648.
This latest launch in breach of United Nations’ resolutions calling the country to suspend activities related to its ballistic missiles prompted the UK, US, Albania, France, Japan and Malta to ask the UN Security Council to schedule an open meeting on Friday afternoon.
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This came just days after Mr Kim’s feared sister, Kim Yo-jong, said US forces encroaching on her nation’s sovereignty would face “a very critical flight” after she claimed an American spy plane had flown over her country’s nearby waters.
Moreover, it came as North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward’s the country’s eastern waters, sparking alarm in Japan.
North Korea has been ramping up its missile testing and has attempted to increase its defence and spy capabilities in recent months.
In 2022 alone, the hermit nation was known to have completed 68 tests, 10 more than the previous year.
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