State media reported that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the nuclear tests and stated that his country should strengthen its nuclear arsenal to deter its enemies.
North Korea claims to have conducted a test launch of long-range cruise missiles, striking a target 1,240 miles (1,900 km) away.
State media reported that leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the nuclear tests and stated that his country should strengthen its nuclear arsenal to deter its enemies.
Mr. Kim stated, according to the Korea Central News Agency, that the nation should “continue to expand the operating sphere of the nuclear strategic armed forces to resolutely deter any key military crisis and war crisis at any time and take the initiative in it” (KCNA).
KCNA also said that the two test-fired missiles on Wednesday flew for 10,234 seconds to “definitely hit the target 2,000 kilometers away.”
The launch of the two cruise missiles was aimed at “further enhancing the combat effectiveness and power (of its missiles)… for the operation of tactical nuclear weapons and reconfirming the dependability and technical safety of the overall operational application system,” according to the statement.
It follows Mr. Kim’s statement that there is no need for discussion with North Korea’s rivals after he pledged to strengthen the country’s nuclear activities.
According to official media, an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was tested over Japan on Tuesday. This missile was newly designed.
