Kim Jong Un has promoted the scientists and soldiers involved in the test launch of North Korea\u2019s largest missile, the Hwasong-17
\n North Korea
\nNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said that his ultimate goal is to possess the world\u2019s most powerful nuclear force, according to state media.
\nKim made the announcement on Saturday as he promoted dozens of military officers involved in the recent launch of North Korea\u2019s largest ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
\nIn his order, Kim said that North Korea was building a nuclear force to protect the dignity and sovereignty of the state and its people and said that his country\u2019s \u201cultimate goal is to possess the world\u2019s most powerful strategic force, the absolute force unprecedented in the century\u201d.
\nHe said the Hwasong-17 \u2014 an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States \u2014 was the \u201cworld\u2019s strongest strategic weapon\u201d and that it demonstrated North Korea\u2019s resolve and ability to eventually build the world\u2019s strongest army.
\nThe ICBM launch on November 18 has been condemned by members of the United Nations Security Council, who called it \u201ca serious escalation\u201d and an \u201cunequivocal threat to international peace and security\u201d. The launch is part of an ongoing blitz of North Korean tests this year that have included the firing of cruise missiles as well as dozens of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
\nKim said on Saturday that North Korean scientists have also made a \u201cwonderful leap forward in the development of the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles\u201d.
\nHe did not elaborate further.
\nThat ability is critical if North Korea wants to achieve its goal of possessing a nuclear weapon that can strike its main foe, the US.
\nOutside observers say that while North Korea has nuclear bombs and missiles that can fly as far as the US, it is not clear if Pyongyang\u2019s scientists can miniaturise the atomic weapons to fit inside the cramped space in the nose of the missiles.
\nKim told the scientists, engineers, military officials and others involved in the Hwasong-17 test on Saturday that he expects them to continue to expand and strengthen the country\u2019s nuclear deterrent at an extraordinarily rapid pace.
\nThe North Korean leader and his daughter went on to pose for a series of pictures with those workers as well as the Hwasong-17.
\nIn a separate report, KCNA also said North Korea\u2019s powerful Standing Committee of the Supreme People\u2019s Assembly had awarded the Hwasong-17 missile the title of \u201cDPRK Hero and Gold Star Medal and Order of National Flag 1st Class\u201d. DPRK refers to North Korea\u2019s official name, the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea.
\nKCNA said the missile \u201cclearly proved before the world that the DPRK is a full-fledged nuclear power capable of standing against the nuclear supremacy of the US imperialists and fully demonstrated its might as the most powerful ICBM state\u201d.
\nThe test fire also demonstrated that North Korea will react in kind to \u201cthe enemy\u2019s nuke and full-frontal confrontation,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kim Jong Un has promoted the scientists and soldiers involved in the test launch of North Korea\u2019s largest missile, the Hwasong-17 North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said that his ultimate goal is to possess the world\u2019s most powerful nuclear force, according to state media. Kim made the announcement on Saturday as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-297841","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n