In an interesting turn of events, on Sunday, North Korea declared that they can test-launch an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) any time. They are ready to test it from any location that leader Kim Jong Un says and blame it on U.S policy for the arms development.
An unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying, “The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere determined by the supreme headquarters of the DPRK,” reported the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter commented that this arms development by North Korea of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles is a ‘serious threat’ to the United States and they are prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile launch or test.
“We only would shoot them down … if it was threatening, that is if it were coming toward our territory or the territory of our friends and allies,” Carter clarified during an appearance on NBC program.
On January 5, U.S had said that North Korea has demonstrated some qualitative improvements in its nuclear arms capabilities.
While the missile, Pyongyang is close to completion and testing, it may take a few more years to perfect the weapon, according to the experts.
When fully finished, this North Korean ICBM is a threat to the continental United States, which is almost 9,000 km (5,500 miles) far. ICBMs usually have a range of about 5,500 km (3,400 miles), but can be specifically designed to travel upto 10,000 km (6,200 miles) or more.
Reactions to these statements have been pouring in. On Monday, South Korean defence ministry spokesperson Moon Sang-gyun brushed aside these statements by saying it is only a ‘provocative announcement’. Jeong Joon-hee, Unification Ministry spokesman, said there were no signs of any launch preparations.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump responded to Kim’s statements on an ICBM test by tweeting: “It won’t happen!”
U.S. State Department spokesman said last week that the United States did not believe that North Korea was capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.
North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since 2006 due to its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. These sanctions were further tightened last month after North Korea conducted its fifth, and largest till date, nuclear test on Sept. 9.
