North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile and threatened to take offensive action against the US. Pyongyang’s fiery rhetoric comes as a US aircraft carrier is set to arrive in South Korea.
On Friday, Seoul reported detecting a ballistic missile fired by North Korea. Pyongyang has conducted several weapons tests over the past month after a five-month pause. North Korea fired multiple missiles during President Donald Trump’s Asia tour.
The US is also deploying the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to the region for war games with South Korea. Pyongyang denounced the military drills.
“Recently, the US military has become brazen in its military moves to threaten the security of the DPRK, intentionally escalating the political and military tension in the region,” No Kwang Chol, Minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, said on Friday. “Amid the ongoing US-[South Korea] joint air drill Freedom Flag, the appearance of the super-large nuclear carrier George Washington task force belonging to the US Seventh Fleet heralds the critical excess, further escalating the tension on the Korean peninsula.”
He continued, “We are ready to respond to everything. We will show more offensive action against the enemies’ threat on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace by dint of powerful strength.”
While Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un formed a positive relationship during the President’s first term, the diplomatic process between Pyongyang and Washington has reached an impasse.
Top North Korean officials have said that they are only willing to meet with American leaders if Washington drops the demand that Pyongyang give up its nuclear weapons. The Trump administration has refused to remove that condition.
