Today, North Korea’s National Defence Commission released a statement ramping up the rhetoric towards the United States. Pyongyang announced its intention to conduct a nuclear explosion of a higher yield than its previous tests in 2006 and 2009. The country also announced that it plans to continue to launch satellites and long-range rockets in direct violation of several UN Security Council resolutions.
Pyongyang stated that its “upcoming all-out action” would target the United States and that “settling accounts with the U.S. needs to be one with force, not with words.”
North Korea also declared an end to the six-party talks and any dialogue on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, Pyongyang stated that the country rejects all Security Council resolutions directed towards the country and declared that its “peaceful satellite” launch was a legitimate exercise of its sovereignty.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry released a more subdued statement yesterday, Jan. 24, in response to the Security Council resolution. For more information, see: http://www.projectforthectbt.org/North-Korea-Vows-Physical-Response-to-UNSC-Resolution.
It was previously reported that North Korea had repaired flood damage to its nuclear test site in late December and is now capable of conducting a nuclear test explosion. For more information, see: http://www.projectforthectbt.org/Is-North-Korea-Preparing-for-Another-Nuclear-Test.