In a significant development on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea said Sunday it had tested a cruise missile system and pledged the “toughest response” to the United States and South Korea for their continued military exercises that it says will They aim at the North. The latest weapons test is the third known weapons display this year and suggests that Pyongyang is likely to continue conducting weapons tests with a confrontational posture against the United States.
Kim watched the missile test.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim observed the test of strategic sea-to-ground cruise-guided weapons on Saturday.
The missiles are reported to be nuclear capable, as KCNA said: “The missiles reached their targets after traveling 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) in elliptical and figure-eight flight patterns.” However, it could not be independently verified.
After the tests, Kim said North Korea’s deterrence capabilities “are being further honed,” adding that Pyongyang will make “strenuous efforts” to defend stability “on the basis of more powerfully developed military muscle.”
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry criticizes the United States
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday also criticized the United States for indulging in “serious military provocations” aimed at North Korea, accusing the Pentagon of holding repeated military exercises with South Korea.
The Foreign Ministry statement reads: “The reality underlines that the DPRK must counter the US with the toughest response from A to Z whenever it rejects the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK, and “This is the best option for dealing with the US.”
While Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said their exercises are defensive in nature, North Korea views U.S. military training with South Korea as invasion rehearsals.
In recent years, the United States and South Korea have expanded their military exercises in response to North Korea’s advancing nuclear program.
The start of Trump’s second term raises prospects for a revival of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, as Trump met with Kim three times during his first term. Trump-Kim diplomacy in 2018-19 collapsed over disputes over U.S.-led economic sanctions on North Korea.
On Monday, Trump called North Korea “a nuclear power” while discussing his personal ties to Kim during an Oval Office news conference after his inauguration.
Washington, Seoul and their partners have long avoided describing North Korea as a nuclear state because it could be seen as acceptance of its pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
(With contributions from AP)
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