North Korea could test nuclear missile, US issues warning
North Korea looks to test nuclear missiles and the US warns consequences will result from this activity.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile (KCNA)
US senior official has vowed a definitive response to the DPRK (North Korea) should they conduct any nuclear tests after Pyongyang launched ballistic missiles over the weekend. A similar show of force was matched from Washington and Seoul. Japan also conducted its own show, in accordance with Pentagon, to show the swiftness of response amongst Western-backed allies.
Nevertheless, the Deputy US Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, stated, after a meeting with her South Korean counterpart, that any nuclear test would come in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
While speaking to reporters, the official announced that “There would be a swift and forceful response to such a test,” and that “The entire world will respond in a strong and clear manner. We are prepared.”
Earlier this week, an informed South Korean source noted that the DPRK has appeared to have fired multiple ballistic missiles from a minimum of two locations near the Sea of Japan on Sunday. In parallel, the South Korean military announced that North Korea (DPRK) launched an unidentified ballistic missile.
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South Korean news agency Yonhap in an update after the incident took place, cited the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that the North tested eight short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from two locations.
The US-led Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) weighed in on the matter, providing a statement saying it had knowledge of Pyongyang's "multiple ballistic missile launches" and was consulting closely with allies and partners, and that the launchers do not threaten the US.
On Monday, State Department spokesman, Ned Price, expressed concerns that North Korea could conduct its next nuclear bomb test sometime “in the coming days.” Ahead of the launch of the DPRK’s seventh-ever nuclear bomb test, the US official reiterates that his country had warned about such actions for some time and that the US had prepared and planned for a contingency plan and discussed the topic with allies and partners.
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The DPRK has recently increased weapons testing to increase its deterrence capabilities. "Only when one is equipped with the formidable striking capabilities, overwhelming military power that cannot be stopped by anyone, one can prevent a war, guarantee the security of the country and contain and put under control all threats and blackmails by the imperialists," Kim Jong-un, DPRK President, said in late March.
Last Sunday, June 5, marked North Korea's 18th missile test since the start of 2022. Prior to that, the DPRK had renewed its testing activities after having paused them in 2017, due to the reemergence of combined US-South Korea joint exercises.
