NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for more weapons tests targeting the Pacific Ocean, a day after his nation for the first time flew a ballistic missile designed to carry a nuclear payload over Japan.
Kim was present for the intermediate range missile launch over Japan, according to the country’s official news agency, and he expressed “great satisfaction” over the launch which he called a “meaningful prelude” to containing Guam, which is home to key US military bases.
He said it is “necessary to positively push forward the work for putting the strategic force on a modern basis by conducting more ballistic rocket launching drills with the Pacific as a target in the future”.
US President Donald Trump has since responded on Twitter, saying that “talking is not the answer” when it comes to North Korea.
He added that the United States had paid the county what he described as “extortion money” for 25 years.
North Korea has, in the past, temporarily halted nuclear development when the US and others provided food aid or other types of compensation.
But the North has not been making such demands, at least publicly, since Trump took office.
The message appears at odds with his secretary of state. Rex Tillerson has been softening the conditions for a possible dialogue with North Korea.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here