This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36122490
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
North Korea 'will halt' nuclear tests if US stops S Korea exercises | North Korea 'will halt' nuclear tests if US stops S Korea exercises |
(about 7 hours later) | |
North Korea has said it will suspend its nuclear tests if the US stops its annual military exercises with South Korea. | North Korea has said it will suspend its nuclear tests if the US stops its annual military exercises with South Korea. |
Foreign minister Ri Su-yong also told the Associated Press news agency that his country would not be cowed by international sanctions. | Foreign minister Ri Su-yong also told the Associated Press news agency that his country would not be cowed by international sanctions. |
A US official has defended the drills as a sign of commitment to South Korea. | A US official has defended the drills as a sign of commitment to South Korea. |
Meanwhile, the North said Saturday's submarine-launched ballistic missile test was a "great success". | |
"It fully confirmed and reinforced the reliability of the Korean-style underwater launching system and perfectly met all technical requirements for carrying out... underwater attack operation," the North Korean news agency KCNA said. | "It fully confirmed and reinforced the reliability of the Korean-style underwater launching system and perfectly met all technical requirements for carrying out... underwater attack operation," the North Korean news agency KCNA said. |
It added that the test gave the country "one more means for powerful nuclear attack". | It added that the test gave the country "one more means for powerful nuclear attack". |
North Korea is banned from nuclear tests and activities that use ballistic missile technology under UN sanctions dating back to 2006. | North Korea is banned from nuclear tests and activities that use ballistic missile technology under UN sanctions dating back to 2006. |
Earlier, Ri Su-yong defended his country's right to have a nuclear deterrent and said the US drove North Korea to develop such weapons as an act of self-defence. | Earlier, Ri Su-yong defended his country's right to have a nuclear deterrent and said the US drove North Korea to develop such weapons as an act of self-defence. |
He suggested that the suspension of the military drills could open the door to talks and reduced tensions. | He suggested that the suspension of the military drills could open the door to talks and reduced tensions. |
"If we continue on this path of confrontation, this will lead to very catastrophic results, not only for the two countries but for the whole entire world as well," he told AP. | "If we continue on this path of confrontation, this will lead to very catastrophic results, not only for the two countries but for the whole entire world as well," he told AP. |
"Stop the nuclear war exercises in the Korean Peninsula, then we should also cease our nuclear tests." | "Stop the nuclear war exercises in the Korean Peninsula, then we should also cease our nuclear tests." |
It was a rare interview by a top North Korean official with a foreign media outlet. The conversation took place in the country's diplomatic mission at the UN, the agency said. | It was a rare interview by a top North Korean official with a foreign media outlet. The conversation took place in the country's diplomatic mission at the UN, the agency said. |
An unnamed US official quoted by AP defended the drills in South Korea as demonstrating Washington's commitment to its alliance with Seoul. | An unnamed US official quoted by AP defended the drills in South Korea as demonstrating Washington's commitment to its alliance with Seoul. |
The US has insisted the North give up its nuclear weapons programme first before any negotiations and has ignored similar proposals in the past, according to the agency. | The US has insisted the North give up its nuclear weapons programme first before any negotiations and has ignored similar proposals in the past, according to the agency. |
Ri Su-yong also said sanctions would not sway his country: "If they believe they can actually frustrate us with sanctions, they are totally mistaken. | Ri Su-yong also said sanctions would not sway his country: "If they believe they can actually frustrate us with sanctions, they are totally mistaken. |
"The more pressure you put on to something, the more emotionally you react to stand up against it. And this is important for the American policymakers to be aware of." | "The more pressure you put on to something, the more emotionally you react to stand up against it. And this is important for the American policymakers to be aware of." |
'Hitting the puppet forces' | 'Hitting the puppet forces' |
The interview came hours after North Korea said it launched a ballistic missile from a submarine, a type of missile that is harder to detect than those launched on land. | |
Some experts, however, think the North has fired missiles from submerged platforms, rather than from submarines. | Some experts, however, think the North has fired missiles from submerged platforms, rather than from submarines. |
The North's official news agency also said the country's leader Kim Jong-un observed from a test facility as the ballistic missile surged from a submarine and spewed out a "massive stream of flames'' as it soared into the sky. | The North's official news agency also said the country's leader Kim Jong-un observed from a test facility as the ballistic missile surged from a submarine and spewed out a "massive stream of flames'' as it soared into the sky. |
It said the missile met all technical thresholds, but did not specify where the test took place. | It said the missile met all technical thresholds, but did not specify where the test took place. |
South Korean officials, however, said the launch took place near the eastern coastal town of Sinpo. | South Korean officials, however, said the launch took place near the eastern coastal town of Sinpo. |
The report also quoted Kim Jong-Un as saying that the North was now capable of "hitting the heads of the South Korean puppet forces and the US imperialists anytime as it pleases". | |
North Korea has so far conducted four nuclear tests - the first one in October 2006 and the latest in January this year. | North Korea has so far conducted four nuclear tests - the first one in October 2006 and the latest in January this year. |
The UN Security Council responded to the latter by imposing its strongest sanctions to date over the North's nuclear weapons programme. | The UN Security Council responded to the latter by imposing its strongest sanctions to date over the North's nuclear weapons programme. |
Last month North Korea said it had developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles, although experts cast doubt on the claims. | Last month North Korea said it had developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles, although experts cast doubt on the claims. |
Analysts believe the North may be gearing up for a fifth test as a show of strength ahead of the North Korean Workers' Party Congress in early May, the first such meeting since 1980. | Analysts believe the North may be gearing up for a fifth test as a show of strength ahead of the North Korean Workers' Party Congress in early May, the first such meeting since 1980. |