The announcement on Wednesday came just days after reports that the communist nation had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan.
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Meanwhile, the North Korean foreign minister proposed that his country was ready to halt its nuclear tests if the U.S. abandons its military exercises in the region. Officials in the South said they could not confirm whether Saturday’s test-firing was a success.
But an immediate military strike wouldn’t be the first option that would be considered in Washington, CBS News reported Tuesday.
There is a chance that tensions could ease somewhat in coming weeks.
Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA announced the Korean Workers’ Party is to hold its rare congress next week, after much speculation in the South the event would be held either May 2 or May 7.
“These provocative acts have been largely timed to project power to the domestic audience”, Person told USA TODAY.
Pyongyang regularly threatens South Korea and the United States, its decadeslong foes.
Satellite imagery of a replica of the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae that North Korea has set up in preparations for a large-scale artillery assault exercise.
Seoul’s Defense Ministry said it had no such intelligence.
President Barack Obama delivered a stern warning to North Korea yesterday, reminding its “erratic” and “irresponsible” leader that America’s nuclear arsenal could “destroy” his country. “But aside from the humanitarian costs of that, they are right next door to our vital ally, [South Korea]”.
Kim’s grandfather, President Kim Il Sung, founded the North’s government after the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II.
With a range of more than 3,000 kilometres, the missile could potentially be used to hit the United States territory of Guam.
The North also claimed last week to have used “cold launch” technology to fire a missile from a submarine, while South Korean officials say it also appears to be preparing another test launch of its medium-range Musudan ballistic missile.
The news comes after it was reported that Kim Jong Un orders the firing of missiles on a whim when he gets upset about US policy toward North Korea.
President Barack Obama said that the United States is re-positioning its missile defense system in the wake of provocative actions from North Korea, but he acknowledged that the isolated Northeast Asian nation poses a “massive challenge” for the US and its allies.
Person stressed that Pyongyang’s goal is preservation of the regime.
Over the weekend the foreign minister had reportedly requested the United States stop the drills in South Korea for a moratorium on North Korean nuclear tests.
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“They went from guns and steel to nukes and butter”, Person said.
