North Korea Plans New Nuclear Rocket Launches Targeting US
Officials in North Korea are claiming that the country is planning nuclear tests and rocket launches that will target the United States.
Announced on Thursday by the National Defense Commission in Pyongyang, North Korea threatened to wage “full-fledged confrontation” against the United States, calling the U.S. an “enemy.”
The announcement came after the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution proposed by the United States to censure and sanction the country for a December rocket launch that breached U.N. rules.
“We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States,” North Korea’s National Defense Commission said, according to state news agency KCNA.
Experts in South Korea believe that North Korea is “technically ready” to launch a third nuclear test, with leader Kim Jong-un bold enough to threaten countries including the United States.
“Whether North Korea tests or not is up to North Korea,” Glyn Davies, the top U.S. envoy for North Korean diplomacy, said in the South Korean capital of Seoul as KCNA released its statement.
“We hope they don’t do it. We call on them not to do it,” Davies said. “This is not a moment to increase tensions on the Korean peninsula.”
North Korea was banned from developing nuclear technology and missiles due to its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
Even North Korea’s only major diplomatic ally, China, endorsed the latest U.N. sanctions.
Is North Korea bluffing? Or will this be the start to the United States’ next war?
James Gilbert | Elite.
