North Korea's Kim says close to test launch of ICBM
Source: Reuters
Sun Jan 1, 2017 | 3:34am EST
By Tony Munroe and Jack Kim | SEOUL
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Sunday that the isolated nuclear capable country was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
North Korea tested ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate during 2016, although some experts have said it is years away from developing an ICBM fitted with a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the United States.
"Research and development of cutting edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage," Kim said during a televised New Year's Day speech.
The country has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions were tightened last month after Pyongyang conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-kim-idUSKBN14L0RN?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5868fe8004d3017a32d980ad&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
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Source: The Guardian and agencies
‘It won’t happen’: president-elect dismisses Kim Jong-un’s claim
of an upcoming ICBM test but says Beijing ‘won’t help’ bring the
regime to heel
Justin McCurry in Osaka and agencies
Tuesday 3 January 2017 08.43 GMT
Donald Trump has said no North Korean nuclear bomb will reach the US mainland, a day after the regime in Pyongyang claimed it was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The president-elect – who has yet to articulate his incoming administration’s approach to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme – also took another swipe at China, accusing Beijing of failing to rein in the North’s nuclear ambitions.
“North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the US. It won’t happen!” Trump tweeted.
It was not clear what Trump meant: whether he believed North Korea was incapable of developing a reliable ICBM, or that the US would prevent it doing so.
He went on to reignite his verbal tit-for-tat with Beijing, this time linking trade to what he called China’s unwillingness to exert pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/03/trump-says-us-safe-from-north-korean-nuclear-strike-no-thanks-to-china
This is so reassuring.
