North Korea threatens ‘pre-emptive’ nuclear attack in response to UN sanctions.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry threatened pre-emptive nuclear attack on the United States Thursday, after the announcement of increased UN sanctions on North Korea. The comments, carried by the Korean New Service (KNS) called the U.S policy, “nuclear blackmail,” and defended North Korea’s right to “continue bolstering nuclear capabilities.”
The sanctions were put in place as a response to North Korea’s most recent round of nuclear tests which began on Feb 12.
The UN sanctions target North Korean individuals and companies whose works is tied to the nuclear program. These include the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID) and Second Academy of Natural Sciences as state agency responsible for nuclear research and an official at the Tanchon Commercial Bank, who finances the sale of weapons, according to Reuters.
The Korea Complex Equipment Import Corporation as subsidiary of the already blacklisted Korea Ryonbong General Corporation was also included in the sanctions.
Although they are considered one of the toughest rounds of sanctions yet, according to Japan Times, success may depend largely on China’s cooperation as North Korea primary export is minerals to China.
This is not the first time inflammatory and confrontational remarks have come out of Pyongyang, through tensions have certainly run high leading up the the announcement of increased sanctions.
While Pyongyang has claimed to have nuclear missiles that could reach the United States, this is widely believed to be untrue. Though efforts to develop their nuclear program continue, many consider these most recent remarks to be empty threats.
