US warns North Korea about missile test
The US has received information that North Korea may be preparing to conduct another missile test and has warned of tougher measures.
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| North Korea's Hwasong-15 missile. Photo: AP. |
"We are hearing reports that North Korea may be preparing for another missile test,"Reutersquoted US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley as saying on January 2. "I hope that doesn't happen. If it does, we will have to take much tougher measures to deal with the North Korean regime."
Ms. Haley also declared that the US will never accept "a nuclear North Korea".
The US ambassador did not provide details about preparations for a missile test, but an unnamed US official said there were signs that a missile launch could happen “sooner or later”. However, the person warned that such signs had appeared in the past but there had been no tests.
North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test last year. In November, it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew farther than any before.
In his New Year's address, leader Kim Jong-un declared that "the entire US is within range of our nuclear weapons, and the nuclear button is always on the table." However, Mr. Kim also left open the possibility of dialogue with South Korea when Seoul hosts the Winter Olympics next month.
