North Korea’s next important date, October 9, the 10th anniversary of its 2006 nuclear test, might be the “perfect occasion” for Kim Jong Un to conduct another test, according to the expert.
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North Korea has stated it is developing weapons of mass destruction against a potential USA attack, despite assurance of security from the Obama and Bush administrations.
Yun reportedly told both foreign ministers that his nation wishes to see North Korea “pay dearly” for its latest nuclear test.
North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year under young leader Kim Jong Un.
The U.S. military has also conducted several B-1 bomber runs in the region, meant to show “an unshakable commitment to defend allies in the region”, according to U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks. After the meeting, the council condemned the test and pledged to immediately begin work on a new resolution imposing sanctions on the North.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung Se by phone, expressing Beijing’s opposition to the North’s latest nuclear test but also reiterating its opposition to the planned deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) anti-missile system in South Korea, China’s Foreign Ministry said.
“The US imperialists keep letting their nuclear strategic bombers fly over South Korea in a bid to seek an opportunity of mounting a preemptive nuclear attack”, the agency statement said. “We stand resolutely with South Korea and Japan to honor our unshakable alliance commitments and to safeguard security and stability”.
Last week’s nuclear test, the North’s fifth, was its most powerful to date.
“People have reason to doubt whether Washington is willing to make the effort to push the North Korea issue in the direction of a resolution”, the paper said.
The US special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said America may impose further sanctions of its own against Pyongyang – something which President Barack Obama eluded to last week.
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The US commander in South Korea, Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, called the North’s nuclear test “a risky escalation” and “an unacceptable threat”.
