In a rare public statement, Kim Jong-un’s sister has sent another warning to the US and South Korea amid North Korea’s firing of ballistic missiles over the weekend.
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A missile launch and joint military training
On Saturday 18 February, North Korea fired a Hwasong-15 intercontinental missile from Pyongyang's international airport, which fell into the Sea of Japan around 201km west of northwestern Oshima Island, Tokyo's vice minister of defence Toshiro Ino said.
North Korea's state news agency, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said the launch showed the nation's 'powerful physical nuclear deterrent' and its attempt to 'turn its capacity of fatal nuclear counterattack on the hostile forces'.
In response, the US flew long-range supersonic bombers over and near the Korean Peninsula on Sunday 19 February during joint military exercises with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets.
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A warning from Kim Jong-un's sister
This sparked a warning from Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who claimed that the US and South Korea were 'openly showing their dangerous greed' and trying 'to gain the military upper hand and predominant position in the Korean Peninsula'.
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She continued:
I warn that we will watch every movement of the enemy and take corresponding and very powerful and overwhelming counteraction against its every move hostile to us.
There is no change in our will to make the worst maniacs escalating the tensions pay the price for their action.
Kim Yo Jong added:
We are carefully examining the influence (the military drills) would exert on the security of our state.
The frequency of using the Pacific as our firing range depends upon the US forces' action character.
North Korea then fired two ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday morning 20 February, which fell into the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, according to the country's coast guard.
KCNA said the 'multiple rocket launcher mobilised in the firing... is a means of tactical nuclear weapon' capable of 'paralysing' an enemy airfield.
Sources used:
- Sky News: 'North Korea launches more missiles as Kim Jong Un's sister warns of 'using Pacific as our firing range''
- SkyNews: 'North Korea says latest missile launch demonstrates its 'powerful physical nuclear deterrent''