North Korea will continue testing 'formidable striking capabilities': Kim Jong-Un

North Korea will continue testing ‘formidable striking capabilities’: Kim Jong-Un. 

On Monday, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, stated that he visited employees involved in the country’s largest missile test. 

He also warns that the country will continue to develop “formidable striking capabilities” that cannot be bartered or sold for anything.

Kim was meeting with officials, scientists, technicians, and employees involved in the launch of North Korea’s most giant intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday, according to state news agency KCNA.

According to the report, Kim stated, “Only when one is equipped with formidable striking capabilities, an overwhelming military power that no one can stop, can one prevent a war, guarantee the security of the country, and contain and put under control all threats and blackmails by the imperialists.”

While personally overseeing the test on Thursday, Kim stated that the new ICBM will help deter any military actions by the US, which is still officially at war with the North because the Korean War concluded in an armistice rather than a peace accord in 1950-1953.

Washington has attempted to persuade Pyongyang to hand over or reduce its arsenal of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking targets in the United States. 

On the other hand, Kim stated that his self-defense force “cannot be bartered nor bought with anything” and that it will remain unwavering in the face of adversity.

Kim stated that North Korea would continue to develop a “more perfect and stronger strategic force,” alluding to the country’s nuclear arsenal. 

On Friday, the US said it would advocate for tougher UN sanctions against North Korea in response to its “increasingly provocative provocations.” 

At the same time, China and Russia expressed disagreement and urged that such measures should be reduced.

North Korea stated that the missile launched on Thursday was the Hwasong-17. Japan and South Korea agreed that flight data showed the launch soared higher and longer than any previous North Korean test.

Analysts believe state media coverage attempted to pass off footage from a previous launch.

On Sunday, the Yonhap news agency in South Korea reported that intelligence officials between Seoul and Washington believe the North tested an older and somewhat smaller Hwasong-15 ICBM.