The U.S. military has said at least one of two supersonic bombers that it flew over South Korea approached the border with the North Korea, an unusual occurrence in the world’s most heavily fortified border.
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North Korea’s top diplomat vowed to bolster the country’s “national nuclear armed forces” to cope with what he calls “increased war threats from the United States”, claiming the country’s fifth nuclear test was part of such efforts.
Discussions are already under way on a possible new United Nations sanctions resolution after North Korea’s fifth and largest nuclear test on September 9.
Yun said North Korea had not only advanced its nuclear and missile capacity, but publicly threatened to use those weapons preemptively.
Pyongyang says the tests aim to protect itself from the U.S. military, which occasionally deploys nuclear-powered warships and aircraft capable of carrying atomic weapons in the region.
North Korea’s foreign minister is defiantly vowing before the U.N. General Assembly that his country would strengthen its nuclear capabilities “both quantity and quality”.
The North Korea Foreign Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly on Friday heavily criticized the United Nations Security Council and the USA and defended the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“It is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving United Nations member, as many countries are already questioning”, Yun said.
Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea.
North Korea’s membership in the United Nations – the only major global forum where Pyongyang has a voice – dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously.
“North Korea is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council”, he said.
“The worldwide system is being exploited by (North Korea). for the objective of pursuing an illegal nuclear and missiles program that threatens both its neighbors and regional peace and security”.
Also voicing alarm, the North Korean foreign minister declared that the Korean peninsula had “turned into the world’s hot spot” that could see “the outbreak of nuclear war”.
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He also criticized the UNSC for not holding emergency meetings requested by North Korea this year in March and August when the U.S. -ROK joint military exercises were underway.
