North Korean propaganda sees Kim Jong-un laugh at deadly long-range missile test
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North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has been snapped laughing and clapping with delight during his country’s biggest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile test.
No independent journalists were at the event, but state-run media showed typically positive pictures of tubby Kim after what appeared to be a successful launch.
He had previously halted such tests following talks with former US president Donald Trump, but he’s now returned to the more familiar sabre-rattling.
Kim said the Hwasong-17 test was designed to make the “whole world clearly aware” that North Korea had upgraded its nuclear arsenal and was ready to take on the United States.
The Hwasong-17 is Kim’s longest-range weapon and is thought to be able to strike a target more than 9,000 miles away. It’s the world’s biggest road-mobile ballistic missile system, reports the Independent.
State-run news agency KCNA said Thursday’s test had met its technical objectives.
One of the images released by the North Koreans showed Kim in sunglasses and a black suit, flanked by two military officers, with the gigantic missile and launcher behind them.
KCNA also published other photos of Mr Kim that showed him cheering on the successful test along with the two officers.
In typical fashion, the fawning announcement stated: “All the defence scientists, who came to enjoy the greatest love and trust under the care of the General Secretary at a significant moment, strikingly demonstrated the tremendous strength of the country to the world, pledged to develop more invincible nuclear attack means for the country.”
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Kim said his military would continue to acquire “formidable military and technical capabilities unperturbed by any military threat and blackmail and keep themselves fully ready for a long-standing confrontation with the US imperialists”.
The development has been viewed as a major escalation by the UN, the US, and North Korea’s neighbours.
The US called it a “brazen violation” of the UN Security Council resolution.
Japan and South Korea have agreed to “strengthen bilateral co-operation against the North Korean threat” and want further UN Security Council actions taken against Kim, while China has called for dialogue.
- Donald Trump
- Military
- China
- North Korea Dprk
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