North Korea escalates nuclear rhetoric amid U.S. test concerns
The North Korean KCNA news agency has released the latest statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "(We) cannot but reconsider the measures necessary for the improvement of the overall nuclear deterrence," the dispatch reported. War rhetoric is an inseparable element of Kim Jong Un’s muscle-flexing.
The Kim Jong Un regime regularly threatens with nuclear weapons. It has been repeatedly emphasized that North Korea will not hesitate to use this destructive weapon if provoked by the "enemy." The North Korean regime has once again resorted to the nuclear scare tactic.
To cope with the strategic instability in the region and the rest of the world caused by the U.S. unilateral action, (we) cannot but reconsider the measures necessary for the improvement of the overall nuclear deterrence posture within the range of its vested sovereign right and possible options — the latest KCNA dispatch reported.
The statement responds to information from the U.S. Department of Energy regarding a so-called subcritical nuclear test that was reportedly conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration at a test site in Nevada. As Reuters points out, during a subcritical test, there is no chain reaction associated with the fission of radioactive atoms.
The North Korean dispatch does not specify what kind of "measures" the regime plans to take.
North Korean missile tests
North Korea regularly conducts ballistic missile tests. The latest one was held last Friday, as reported by Reuters on Saturday, May 18th, 6:00 PM. — The news agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the tactical ballistic missile tests equipped with a new autonomous guidance system on Friday, citing local media.
The Koreans reportedly launched several short-range ballistic missiles. They were fired toward the Sea of Japan. After the tests concluded, the dictator expressed satisfaction with their performance and ordered to accelerate the production of new missiles.
KCNA reported that "the test launch confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the system," indicating that the missiles covered a distance of 306 kilometres.
