A North Korean state media outlet has accused the US of “jumping to conclusions” that the North would soon stage a nuclear test, adding to the confusion over its immediate intentions.
The US and its ally South Korea are “fussing over speculation” without knowing exactly what action the North plans to take, Tongil Sinbo, a Japan-based pro-North Korea weekly magazine funded by Pyongyang, said in an editorial.
“The US and enemies, based on their own hypothesis and arguments, jumped to the conclusion that we would stage a third nuclear test,” said the editorial dated Friday and posted on the North’s official Web site, Uriminzokkiri.
“They are fussing over speculation without having a clue about what important state measures will be taken, including whether it will be a nuclear test or something worse than that,” it said.
The North’s top body, the National Defense Commission, announced on Jan. 24 that it would carry out a “high-level nuclear test” and further rocket launches, in a defiant response to tightened UN sanctions after its successful long-range rocket launch in December.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently vowed to take “important state measures” and discussed a “great turn” in bolstering military capability.
Experts and Seoul officials, citing recent satellite imagery, say the impoverished but nuclear-armed state has completed preparations for another atomic test in a site in the northeast. Tongil Sinbo said the North’s actions were not intended to threaten anyone, but only aimed at protecting its national interest in the face of threats from the US and ally South Korea.
South Korean officials could not immediately be reached by Agence France-Presse for comment.
A Seoul official quoted by Newsis news agency described the remarks as an attempt to confuse the South and the US ahead of the imminent test.
“It’s only wishful thinking that the North will not stage a third nuclear test,” the unidentified official was quoted as saying.
“If the North genuinely decides to scrap a plan for a nuclear test, it will be announced by official state media like the Rodong Sinmun,” said the official, referring to the ruling communist party’s official newspaper.
The North insists its rocket launch was a scientific mission aimed at putting a satellite into an orbit.
The US and many other countries viewed it as a disguised ballistic missile test banned under UN resolutions.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY: The project would only be the beginning, as Taiwan needs at least 120 satellites to ensure uninterrupted communication, Wu Tsung-tsong said The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) yesterday said it plans to launch six low Earth orbit satellites starting in 2026 as part of the government’s plan to boost the resilience of the nation’s communications. The development of the technology gained attention after Ukrainians were able to access the Internet through Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) CEO Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service, despite their infrastructure being severely damaged in the war with Russia. Two of the satellites would be built by the government, while four would involve cooperation between TASA and private contractors. “Over the past 30 years, the satellite technology in Taiwan has
PLAN: Nations would receive US$5m a year if they could advance Taiwan’s international participation, diversify supply chains away from China or counter Beijing’s influence The US House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Friday introduced a bill that would approve US$120 million to be spent on supporting Taiwan’s international space and tackling coercion by China. The bipartisan legislation — the Taiwan Allies Fund Act — was proposed ahead of the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on May 20. The committee said in a statement that the bill “strengthens Taiwan’s global network of friends by authorizing [US]$120 million over three years for the State Department and USAID [US Agency
‘MONEY PIT’: The KMT’s more than NT$2 trillion infrastructure project proposals for eastern Taiwan lack professional input and financial transparency, the DPP said The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday said it would ask the Executive Yuan to raise a motion to oppose the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus’ infrastructure proposals and prepare to file for a constitutional interpretation if the KMT-dominated legislature forces their passage. The DPP caucus described the three infrastructure plans for transportation links to eastern Taiwan proposed by the KMT as “three money pit projects” that would cost more than NT$2 trillion (US$61.72 billion). It would ask the Executive Yuan to oppose public projects that would drain state financial resources, DPP caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said. It would also file for
The International Industrial Talents Education Special (INTENSE) Program to attract foreigners to study and work in Taiwan will provide scholarships and a living allowance of up to NT$440,000 per person for two years beginning in August, Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung (潘文忠) told a meeting of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee yesterday. Pan was giving an update on the program’s implementation, a review of universities’ efforts to recruit international students and promotion of the Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) program. Each INTENSE Program student would be awarded a scholarship of up to NT$100,000 per year for up to