Seoul: North Korea fires short-range projectiles into sea

Mildred Bowen
11:59, Mar 4, 2016
Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned his country to be ready to use nuclear weapons "at any time".

The North Korean leader has put his military on high alert as South Korea and the US are poised to stage their annual military drills this month.

"We must always be ready to fire our nuclear warheads at any time", Kim said, according to North Korea's KCNA news agency.

Kirby also said the U.S.is now focused on ensuring robust implementation of the new United Nations sanctions.

The comments, carried by the North's official KCNA news agency, marked a further escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula after the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday imposed harsh new sanctions against the isolated state for its nuclear programme.

North Korea routinely test-fires missiles and rockets, but it often conducts more weapons launches when angered at worldwide condemnation.

South Korea's defence ministry said the North had fired half a dozen rockets about 100-150 kilometres (60-90 miles) into the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday.

The caveat is that these sanctions will need to be enforced, which has previously been a tricky issue, and rest assured that North Korea will challenge them any way they can.

Over the last three years, Kim has attended the testing of the new multiple rocket launcher a total of 13 times, the North's media said, noting his keen interest in the development of the formidable weapons system.

North Korea has threatened nuclear war in the past, but it is unclear just how advanced the country's nuclear program really is. It said the sanctions would not result in the country's collapse or prevent it from launching more rockets.

KCNA, in its typically dramatic language, called the sanctions a flagrant effort by the "U.S. imperialists and their followers" to impose "gangster-like" economic and political pressure and military aggression on North Korea for its defensive actions and sovereign right to launch an earth-observation satellite.

At the United Nations, Russia's ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, asked about the North's firing of short-range projectiles, said, "It means that they're not drawing the proper conclusions yet".

Johns Hopkins University's 38 North project, which monitors North Korea, said an image from February 21 showed an unusual convoy of trucks near the vertical engine test stand.

Its deployment is strongly opposed by China and Russian Federation, with Beijing saying it would undermine its own nuclear deterrent and has the potential to "destroy" relations with Seoul.

Even Tiger Woods' positive update comes with a warning
The 40-year-old has been off the PGA Tour with ongoing back issues and recently admitted there is no timescale on his return . Day enters this week's tournament ranked second in the world but has not posted a top 5 finish since the playoffs past year .

Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.


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