N Korea Warns US, Vows to Send «Bigger Gift Package»

Local Editor

Hailing Pyongyang's "successful" missile launch on Monday, the North Korean leader insisted that his country will take a "greater leap forward" in developing the proficiency of their strategic weapons, the North's state-run news agency KCNA reported Tuesday.

Kim Jong-un's bid to retaliate towards the US' "military provocation" comes a day after he supervised the test of a Scud-missile missile launch which was controlled by a precision guidance system.

Branding the launch "successful", KCNA insisted that the "precision guided ballistic rocket is capable of making ultra-precision strike."

The news agency added: "The ballistic rocket flew toward the east sky where the day broke and correctly hit a planned target point with deviation of seven meters after flying over the middle shooting range."

US President Donald Trump attacked the North's missile test, saying it showed "disrespect" to its Chinese neighbor.

Expressing his anger on Twitter, Trump said: "North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile... but China is trying hard."

Minutes after the missile was launched, South Korea's military confirmed that the Scud-projectile had fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone.

South Korea's military earlier said the Scud-type missile travelled eastward for 450 km.

Roh Jae-cheon, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman, said North Korea was likely showing its determination to push ahead in the face of international pressure to rein in its missile program and "to pressure the [South Korean] government to change its policy on the North."

Japan said it believed it had fallen into its exclusive economic zone, extending 322 nautical kilometers from the coast.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned the missile launch and vowed to work with President Trump to address North Korea's repeated threats.

He said: "As we agreed at the recent G7, the issue of North Korea is a top priority for the international community.

"Working with the United States, we will take specific action to deter North Korea."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team