North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un has confirmed that the short-range missiles tests executed on July 25 were intended as a 'warning' to 'warmongering' South Korea.
In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim says, "We cannot but develop nonstop super-powerful weapon systems to remove the potential and direct threats to the security of our country that exist in the South."
The tests are believed to have been carried out in response to plans for a joint military drill between the US and South Korea, with the timing coinciding with a state visit to South Korea by National Security Advisor John Bolton. However, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Bloomberg that the tests were just a negotiating tactic.
The missile is believed to be of a new type, according to South Korea officials, with one flying 430 kilometres and the other travelling 690 kilometres. Both missiles landed in the sea, with Kim Jong Un believed to have personally supervised the test.
The U.S. State Department responded to the tests with a call for "no more provocations." A department spokesperson said, "This administration is committed to diplomatic engagement with the North Koreans and we continue to press and hope for these working-level negotiations to move forward."
Japan responded, calling the tests "deeply regrettable" and urging
The DPRK had, at the time, criticized South Korea's joint military drills with the US, as well as their purchase of F-35 stealth fighters. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry cited Trump's promise to halt all military drills, made during the Singapore talks between the nations.
While Donald Trump had promised to cancel large scale war games with South Korea at the Singapore summit, the North tested tactical and short-range missiles in early 2019.
This is the first missile test the DPRK has conducted since Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump met at the demilitarized zone in June.
File photo of Donald Trump meeting with Kim Jong Un | Reuters
On July 21, senior South Korean officials confirmed that a US-South Korea military exercise would continue as planned.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to the launches coming in the wake of a 'historic' meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, saying that North Korea had executed more dangerous tests prior to the meet. On Thursday, Trump told Fox News that he was "getting along" with North Korea and that they "really haven't tested missiles other than smaller ones."
