A North Korean official warned that Pyongyang could fire a nuclear-tipped missile unless the US acts to resolve its standoff with the North, Yonhap news agency reported yesterday.
"We hope the situation will be resolved before an unfortunate incident of us firing a nuclear missile comes," the unnamed official said on Monday, according to a Yonhap report from Beijing. "That depends on how the US will act."
Even if the North is confirmed to have a functioning atomic bomb, most experts don't believe it has a design small and light enough to place on a missile.
Their long-range missile capability also remains in question, after a test rocket in July apparently fizzled out shortly after takeoff.
Meanwhile, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan said international nuclear disarmament arms talks will not resume unless the US changes its stance toward the hermit regime.
"No diplomatic offensive or military threats are likely to change the trend unless the US withdraws hostility and pressure," the Choson Sinbo wrote in a story believed to originate from the North.
The newspaper is connected to a society of ethnic North Koreans in Japan linked to the Pyongyang regime.
"The six-way talks are deadlocked due to the US pressure and there is no prospect for the resumption of talks," the newspaper said. "North Korea's development of nuclear weapons was an inevitable choice to counter the US military threats."
However, the North Korean official said the country was seeking direct talks with the US.
"The nuclear test is an expression of our intention to face the United States across the negotiating table," the official said.
Yonhap didn't say how or where it contacted the official, who requested anonymity.
The official also dismissed moves at the UN Security Council to sanction the impoverished nation over its reported nuclear test three days ago.
"We have lost enough. Sanctions can never be a solution," the official said. "We still have a willingness to give up nuclear weapons and return to six-party talks as well. It's possible whenever the US takes corresponding measures."
Meanwhile, Japan urged the international community yesterday to retaliate with sanctions on North Korea as nations across Asia and the world considered what to do next after Pyongyang tested an atomic bomb.
South Korea warned its military was remaining on high alert and even close ally China refused to rule out a harder line on the North.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from