North Korea fired ballistic missile towards the sea, claim neighbouring countries
AP. North Korea's neighbouring countries including Japan and South Korea informed that they detected a possible ballistic missile launch by North Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japan’s Defense Ministry informed that the country ruled by Kim Jong Un fired missile on Sunday.
The last time North Korea fired a missile was on December 18 when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. The latest launch came days after North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the tense sea border with South Korea. In retaliation, South Korea conducted similar exchange of firing in the same area.
Kim Jong Un said, "The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea)," reported official Korean Central News Agency. Earlier, Kim Jong Un called South Korea “our principal enemy" and warned to annihilate it if provoked. South Korea’s parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in April while the US will go to polls in November this year.
Kim Jong Un pledged to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal and launch additional spy satellites last month. He said that these moves were in response to US led confrontations. South Korea claimed that North Korea successfully manoeuvred a reconnaissance satellite into orbit last year with the help of Russia.
This assistance was alleged to be received in exchange for arms shipments for Russia's war in Ukraine, reported AFP. North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power in 2022. Kim Jong Un ruled country said that it will never give up its nuclear weapons programme, which the regime views as essential
. Read more on livemint.com
