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N Korea Hails Test of Breakthrough Guided Missile


N Korea Hails Test of Breakthrough Guided Missile
folder_openKoreas access_time9 years ago
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Local Editor

North Korea announced Friday the successful test of a new high-precision, tactical guided missile, as its army threatened a "devastating" retaliation against South Korea for carrying out live fire drills near their maritime border.


N Korea Hails Test of Breakthrough Guided Missile
The launch of the "cutting-edge" missile was watched by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, according to the North's official KCNA news agency, which hailed the test as a "breakthrough" in national defense capability.

KCNA did not specify the timing of the test, but it appeared to coincide with the firing on Thursday of what South Korea described as three short-range projectiles into the Sea of Japan [East Sea].

The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, published pictures Friday of the new missile being tested with Kim in attendance.
Kim reportedly stressed the weapon's importance in providing a credible "pre-emptive" strike capability.

On Thursday, the Korean People's Army [KPA] released a statement on KCNA condemning recent South Korean live fire exercises near their disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea.
The statement described the drills as a "reckless provocation" and warned that frontline KPA units had rounded off preparations for a "devastating strike" in retaliation.

"All they are waiting for is the order to be given by the Supreme Command," it said.
The South's defense ministry declined to confirm that any particular drills had taken place, but said routine exercises in the area of the maritime border were common.

But others said Friday's announcement was simply aimed at talking up the North's military capabilities as the international community seeks ways to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

KCNA said the test was carried out at a time when "attempts to isolate and suffocate us and provocations to start a war of aggression by the US and its puppets are reaching a new height."
Inter-Korean relations have been tense for some months following annual South Korea-US military exercises that Pyongyang regularly condemns as provocative rehearsals for invasion.

Before the new missile test, there had been hopes that the atmosphere was calming as the two sides held their first talks for six months on running their joint industrial zone in Kaesong.
Because the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas remain technically at war.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

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