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WORLD NEWSWednesday 16 March 2016
North Korea’s Kim warns of impending nuclear and rocket tests
HYUNG-JIN KIM People watch a TV screen showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program, at three to four years.
Associated Press Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Even if the tests happen,
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — has warned of impending tests of a nuclear warhead explosion and ballistic missiles capable analysts in Seoul said the
North Korean leader Kim of carrying atomic warheads, state media reported Tuesday, in an escalation of threats against nuclear warhead explo-
Jong Un has warned of im- Seoul and Washington. The screen reads “Nuclear technology.” sion that Kim referred to
pending tests of a nuclear will likely be just a test of a
warhead explosion and (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) warhead containing only a
ballistic missiles capable of trigger device but lacking
carrying atomic warheads, sanctions after the coun- launch conducted earlier strength ahead of a ma- plutonium or uranium. They
state media reported Tues- try was hit by the toughest this year. jor meeting of the ruling said the North could also
day, in an escalation of U.N. Security Council sanc- Some of the North’s recent party in May. In the past, launch shorter-range mis-
threats against Seoul and tions in two decades in rhetoric was seen intended North Korea has typically siles, but not one with an
Washington. early March for a nuclear for a domestic audience conducted nuclear tests intercontinental range.
The warning came as test and long-range rocket to display government and rocket launches every Pyongyang, known for its
North Korea said it had trademark fiery rhetoric in
made a breakthrough in its times of tension with the
pursuit of a long-range mis- outside world, has been
sile capable of striking the stepping up its threats af-
U.S. mainland. South Ko- ter Washington and Seoul
rea says the North has yet last week began annual
to develop a functioning in- military drills that the North
ter-continental ballistic mis- views as an invasion re-
sile. Kim issued the order for hearsal. Last Wednesday,
the tests “in a short time,” North Korea’s main news-
according to the Korean paper printed photos of
Central News Agency. The what appeared to be a
KCNA report did not say if mock-up of nuclear war-
Kim gave specific dates for head. State media on Fri-
the tests. day quoted Kim as hav-
It is not clear if the tests ing ordered more nuclear
would happen soon, given explosion tests but again
that any tests would likely didn’t say when they would
invite harsher international occur. q
