North Korea kim jong un says Iran should specifically prepare to confront the US
North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea, resuming its high-profile weapons testing activities, as the North pledges harsh retaliation for US and South Korean measures to strengthen their nuclear deterrence preparations.
According to South Korea’s military, the missile was launched at an angle to avoid neighbouring countries.
The launch was described as “a grave provocation” that endangers international peace. It also stated that the launch violated UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from engaging in any ballistic missile activity. North Korea’s ballistic missile launch was also observed by Japan’s Defence Ministry.
Fumio Kishida, Japan’s Prime Minister, informed reporters that he had received no reports of injuries or damage from the missile launch and that he planned to convene a National Security Council meeting to discuss the test.
The launch was the North’s first ICBM test flight in approximately five months, and it was its second in less than a day. According to the South Korean, Japanese, and US governments, the North shot a short-range ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on Sunday night.
The short-range missile flew around 570 kilometres (354 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korea’s military. The range is sufficient to reach vital locations in South Korea, including US military installations.
According to the US military, the launch demonstrated “the destabilising impact of (North Korea’s) illicit weapons programme.”
On Friday, senior US and South Korean officials convened in Washington for their second Nuclear Consultative Group meeting.
According to Seoul authorities, they agreed to revise their nuclear deterrent and contingency plans, as well as include nuclear operation scenarios in their combined military exercises next summer.
Though the US will retain operational control of its nuclear weapons, the consultative body is responsible for sharing information on nuclear and strategic weapons operating plans and cooperative activities.
