North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un
has ordered an imminent nuclear warhead explosion test and multiple ballistic
missile launches, escalating Pyongyang's face-off with the international
community just days after being slapped with tough UN sanctions.
The order came after Kim monitored what was described as the successful simulated test of the warhead re-entry technology required for a long-range nuclear strike on the US mainland, the North's official KCNA news agency said today.
Military tensions have been soaring on the divided Korean peninsula ever since the North carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6, followed a month later by a long-range rocket launch that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.
The order came after Kim monitored what was described as the successful simulated test of the warhead re-entry technology required for a long-range nuclear strike on the US mainland, the North's official KCNA news agency said today.
Military tensions have been soaring on the divided Korean peninsula ever since the North carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6, followed a month later by a long-range rocket launch that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.
The UN Security Council
responded earlier this month by imposing its toughest sanctions on North Korea
to date, targeting key economic sectors and seeking to undermine the North's
use of, and access to, international transport systems.
Pyongyang, meanwhile, has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing, large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
Pyongyang, meanwhile, has maintained a daily barrage of nuclear strike threats against both Seoul and Washington, ostensibly over ongoing, large-scale South Korea-US military drills that the North sees as provocative rehearsals for invasion.
In order to boost the
reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent still further, Kim said a nuclear
warhead explosion test and firings of "several kinds" of ballistic
rockets would be carried out "in a short time".
"He instructed the relevant section to make pre-arrangement for them to the last detail," KCNA said.
The order came days after state media released photos of Kim posing with what was claimed to be a miniaturised nuclear warhead capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.
"He instructed the relevant section to make pre-arrangement for them to the last detail," KCNA said.
The order came days after state media released photos of Kim posing with what was claimed to be a miniaturised nuclear warhead capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.