On Friday, Pyongyang launched its most powerful nuclear blast to date, saying it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile.
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During a visit to Japan on Sunday, Sung Kim said the USA will consider unilateral measures in addition to action at the U.N. Security Council, according to media reports.
North Korea said it conducted a “higher level” nuclear test last week that will allow it to build an array of stronger, smaller and lighter nuclear weapons.
Shortly after the North’s test, South Korea’s top military intelligence officer, Kim Hwang Rok, said North Korea has two or three unused tunnels in the Punggy-ri test site where it can conduct an additional test if it wants. That has raised fears the communist state is accelerating its efforts to develop a nuclear-tipped missile that could reach the USA mainland.
The South Korean defence ministry could not immediately confirm the report.
Following the nuclear test by North Korea, the U.N. Security Council convened an emergency meeting Friday, where it vowed to promptly work on “appropriate measures” in response to the isolated country’s actions, including a reference to a possible sanctions resolution. The U.N. Security Council strongly condemned the nuclear test – the North’s fifth and its second of the year – and promised new measures against Pyongyang. North Korea is capable of detonating another nuclear device anytime at one of its unused tunne.
South Korea’s military on Friday revealed it has retaliation plans involving precision-strike missiles and special operations forces for direct attacks on the North’s leadership in the case of a North Korean nuclear attack.
The official declined to name the bomber’s type or the fleet’s size.
Yonhap quoted a government source as saying: “Indications have been gathered that the North has completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test at any time in the third tunnel that has not been used previously”.
President Park Geun-hye has already rejected the suggestion as contrary to the South’s own global obligations.
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“In other words, the North’s capital city will be reduced to ashes and removed from the map”, the source said, following the latest attempt by the North to showcase its nuclear capabilities. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea. “Washington has been refusing to sign a peace treaty with Pyongyang”.
