Kim Jong-un threatens to turn US into ‘sea of flames’ with surprise attack, boasts America’s fate is in his hands
The threat comes after the rogue state claimed America is now in 'mortal fear' after it carried out another successful ballistic missile
TYRANT
dictator Kim Jong-un has taunted Donald Trump boasting "America's fate
is in hands of North Korea" by vowing to turn US into a "sea of flames".
"Whatever means and methods the U.S. may employ, they will never work on the DPRK. The U.S. fate is in the hands of the DPRK.
"If the US and south Korean warmongers persist in reckless action in disregard of our repeated warnings, we will decisively take a strong retaliatory step."
Meanwhile, an editorial run in one of Korea's state-run newspapers described the US as a "war merchant living on human blood," while the official newspaper said the US "would meet horrible nuclear strike and miserable and final ruin" in the event of an attack.
Footage released on North Korean TV yesterday captured the launch of an intermediate range Hwasong-12 which is capable of reaching the US island of Guam.
Images of the Kim Jong-un were released showing him gleefully watching the missile test.
The brash North Korean tyrant boasted of his "shining victory" and vowed that his final goal is "equilibrium of real force with US".
Japan warned its residents to "duck and cover" as furious Americans vowed an "ironclad" response to Pyongyang's latest military test.
Now in a typically unrepentant statement from North Korea, they bragged their military display was met with "admiration", not condemnation.
"People from across the world have expressed admiration at the DPRK's bold pluck and great potentiality," claimed the NK state media.
"Media of many countries are zealously reporting about the DPRK's nuclear attack capability, which has reached the high level able to ensure the accuracy and freely control the striking power according to targeted object and purpose, and about the failure of the US policy toward the DPRK.
"Now no one can disregard the immense national strength and potentiality of the DPRK and deny its strategic position as a responsible nuclear weapons state with a great clout.
"The U.S. has tightened sanctions and blockade by mobilising its vassal forces to stifle the DPRK. But it could not check the advance of the army and people of the DPRK.
"The U.S., styling itself as a superpower while boasting of its strength before other big powers, is in mortal fear of the DPRK."
Japan's defence minister Itsunori Onodera said he believed North Korea has the U.S. territory in mind with its recent nuclear missile tests. as he warned that "similar actions (by the North) would continue".
"We cannot assume North Korea's intention, but given what it has said, I think it has Guam in mind," he said.
Pyongyang has constantly threatened to hit the US Pacific territory - home to the Andersen Air Force Base - with missiles bringing "enveloping fire".
Physicist David Wright, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said today:
"North Korea demonstrated that it could reach Guam with this missile, although the payload the missile was carrying is not known" and its accuracy was in doubt."
The US Pacific Command confirmed the launch was an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) but insisted it posed no threat to Guam or to the American mainland.
However, officials reiterated that Washington's commitments to the defence of its territories and allies remained "ironclad”.
South Korea's Defense Ministry said the country's military conducted a live-fire drill of a Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile in response to the North's latest aggressive move.
The missile flew over northern Japan and smashed down in the Sea of Japan about 2,000km to the east off Hokkaido.
Seoul said it was the 19th launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea this year.
After the launch, the South Korean military also carried out a live tank fire exercise along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Paju.
South Korea’s president has said the country possesses the power to destroy its northern neighbour “beyond recovery."
Moon Jae-in also said dialogue with the Kim was “impossible in a situation like this”, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.
Mr Moon said: “In case North Korea undertakes provocations against us or our ally, we have the power to destroy [them] beyond recovery.
“Dialogue is impossible in a situation like this. International sanctions and pressure will further tighten to force North Korea to choose no other option but to step forward on the path to genuine dialogue.”
Moon also promised to closely analyse and prepare for new possible North Korean threats, like EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) and biochemical attacks.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis both called the ICBM launch a reckless act.
Mr Abe said: “The international community should unite against such conduct to send a clear message … The recent sanctions and resolutions must be fully complied with and implemented. That is now ever more clear.
“If North Korea continues to walk this road, there will be no bright future. We need to get North Korea to understand that."
The US military said the missile did not pose a threat to its territory of Guam.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis branded North Korea 'reckless' after the launch.
Asked about a possible American military response, Mattis said, "I
don't want to talk on that yet." after he said that the missile launch
had "put millions of Japanese in duck and cover."
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "North Korea has conducted yet another illegal missile launch.
"The UK and the international community have condemned the aggressive and illegal actions of the North Korean regime, and the succession of missile and nuclear tests.
"We stand firmly by Japan and our other international partners.
"We are working to mobilise world opinion with the aim of achieving a diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula.
"This week the most stringent UN sanctions regime placed on any nation in the 21st century was imposed on North Korea, after being unanimously agreed at the UN Security Council.
"These measures now need to be robustly enforced. We urge all states to play their part in changing the course North Korea is taking."
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "North Korea has conducted yet another illegal missile launch.
"The UK and the international community have condemned the aggressive and illegal actions of the North Korean regime, and the succession of missile and nuclear tests.
"We stand firmly by Japan and our other international partners.
"We are working to mobilise world opinion with the aim of achieving a diplomatic solution to the situation on the Korean peninsula.
"This week the most stringent UN sanctions regime placed on any nation in the 21st century was imposed on North Korea, after being unanimously agreed at the UN Security Council.
"These measures now need to be robustly enforced. We urge all states to play their part in changing the course North Korea is taking."
"This is another dangerous, reckless, criminal act by the North Korean regime, threatening the stability of the region and the world and we condemn it, utterly," he said in an interview with Sky News.
"This is a sign, I believe, of their frustration at the increased sanctions on North Korea, recently imposed by the Security Council. It's a sign that the sanctions are working."
Mr Turnbull later fronted the media, where he addressed whether further sanctions would increase the risk of attack on Japan.
"I don't accept that. The critical thing is to continue to apply economic pressure on North Korea to bring the regime to it senses," he said.
"Nobody wants to see a war on the Korean Peninsula. If Kim Jong-un were to start a war, to attack the United States or one of its allies, he would be signing a suicide note.
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