“No. The two countries have made a decision”, he told Reuters.
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North Korea’s fifth nuclear test on September 9 has been universally condemned, and has prompted the United States, Japan and South Korea to call for tougher sanctions at the U.N. Security Council. Analysts and diplomats say much depends on China’s attitude.
N Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st United Nations session on Friday.
“As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence”.
South Korea’s defense minister reportedly told parliament about the plan Wednesday.
This year alone, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired more than 20 missiles.
Beijing has said it will work within the United Nations to formulate a necessary response to the latest nuclear test, but questions remain as to whether it is willing to agree tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons. US Forces at Korea said the flights were a show of force and of the US commitment to preserve the security of the peninsula and the region.
During his 15-minute speech, he referred to the U.S. 25 times in a manner that suggested North Korea has pitted itself against the U.S. He hammered the point that Pyongyang will continue pursuing its nuclear and missile programs despite sanctions imposed by a large part of the global community.
“It is inadmissible to use this situation as a pretext for massive militarization of northeast Asia and deployment of another position area for USA global missile defense there”, he said.
He accused USA of threatening North Korea by flying B1-B strategic bombers over the military demarcation line on the Korean peninsula and warned: “We will never remain onlookers at it and United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination”. Meanwhile, the Union of Concerned Scientists said there is some speculation that Pyongyang may try another satellite launch around October 10, the anniversary of the founding of its Worker’s Party of Korea. “It needs its status as a nuclear power to be recognized”, Evans said, adding that, “The leadership sees developing a nuclear deterrent as a guarantor of survival”.
North Korea also launched three land-based ballistic missiles in a single morning in early September without any prior warning, according to CNN.
“More bombs were dropped on North Korea than on any other country in the Asian theater during World War II”, she said, adding that the United States actively took part in bombing the country, and some 80 percent of its infrastructure was demolished by the end of the war.
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The DPRK, as an independent state, emerged following a bloody civil war with South Korea between 1950-53.
