The North Korean foreign minister’s warnings about a nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean should be taken “literally,” a senior Pyongyang official told CNN.
“The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally,” Ri Yong Pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, told the network.
North Korea “has always brought its words into action,” an irritated Ri added.
During a visit to New York for the UN General Assembly last month, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho raised the possibility that the rogue regime could test a powerful hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.
The threat came hours after President Trump threatened during a speech at the United nations to “totally destroy” North Korea.
The rogue state carried out the strongest of its six nuclear tests in early September, claiming to have used an H-bomb. The UN responded by imposing a fresh round of sanctions on the country.
Ri also implied that diplomatic channels between the two countries were nonexistent, despite Secretary of State Rex Tillerson claiming they are still open.
“The US is talking about a military option and even practicing military moves. They’re pressuring us on all fronts with sanctions. If you think this will lead to diplomacy, you’re deeply mistaken,” Ri said, according to CNN.
Last week, CIA chief Mike Pompeo said North Korea could be only months away from gaining the ability to hit the US with nuclear weapons.
According to experts, an atmospheric test would be a way of demonstrating that capability. All of the hermit kingdom’s previous nuclear tests have been conducted underground.
Trump, who will visit Asia next week, declined to say Wednesday whether he would visit the Korean peninsula’s demilitarized zone.
“I’d rather not say, but you’ll be surprised,” Trump said, Reuters reported.
Source: http://nypost.com/2017/10/26/north-korea-doubles-down-on-threat-to-test-nukes-over-pacific/
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