Speaking at an upper house plenary session, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will strongly demand that Pyongyang abandon “all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs” in line with U.N. Security Council resolutions on the country.
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North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any criticism of Kim, considers the broadcasts an act of psychological warfare.
A male announcer could be heard from South Korea telling North Koreans that Kim Jong Un, the leader of their impoverished country, and his wife wear clothes costing thousands of dollars.
After North Korea’s last nuclear test in 2013, the US sent B-2 stealth bombers, B-52 bombers and F-22 Raptor fighters for drills in South Korea in a show of force.
Obama also reaffirmed the “unshakeable United States commitment” to the security of South Korea and Japan, according to the statements.
After Kerry’s comments, a United States official admitted that “China has an influence on North Korea that nobody else has”. It would also authorize the U.S.to sanction others who are facilitating or transferring assets to North Korea, penalize cybercrimes and crack down on human rights abuses.
South Korea has taken similar measures in the past and implemented them for about a month in response to nuclear or missile tests by its northern neighbor.
South Korea said DPRK’s nuclear test was in violation of the August 25 agreement, reached on August 25 past year after marathon inter-Korean talks between top-level military advisors to their respective leaders.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that frontline troops, near 11 sites where propaganda loudspeakers started blaring messages at noon (0300 GMT), were on highest alert.
Cho’s announcement came after top national security officials met in Seoul to discuss a response to the North’s nuclear test Wednesday.
MORE: What is a hydrogen bomb – and why is it so worrying if North Korea has one?
North Korea dropped a bombshell, literally and figuratively, on Wednesday, when it announced that it had successfully just detonated a hydrogen bomb.
South Korea deployed loudspeakers in August, after the North refused to admit blame for a landmine blast that injured two soldiers in demilitarized zone.
“China should not follow the United States”, the source said, referring to the USA demand that North Korea give up its nuclear programme before any negotiations.
Trump then vowed he would pressure China into curbing North Korean aggression should he win the White House in November.
The development marks a major advance in North Korea’s nuclear weapons capabilities. There are still many unanswered questions about the nuclear test.
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And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters on the campaign trail that the nuclear test was “an example of a withdrawn America in the world”.
