North Korea: Kim Jong-un Oversees Short-Range Projectile Tests
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a “strike drill” testing various missile components on May 4, state media has confirmed.
“A number of short-range projectiles” were also fired from the Hodo peninsula into the Sea of Japan, the state media said.
Kim Jong-un gave the order of firing to “increase the combat ability” of North Korea, the announcement said.
President Donald Trump tweeted he believed Kim Jong-un would not jeopardize the path towards better relations.
He added that Kim Jong-un “knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!
President Trump tweeted on May 4: “Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong-Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea and will do nothing to interfere or end it.”
Donald Trump walked away from what he described as a bad deal offered by the North Korean at a summit meeting in Hanoi in February.
North Korea Preparing to Launch Missile or Satellite from Sanumdong Site
In its report on May 5, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim Jing-un had stressed the need to “defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance” of North Korea in the face of threat and invasion.
The aim of the drill, which was testing “large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers”, was to “inspect the operating ability and the accuracy of striking duty performance,” the report said.
Kim Jong-un told troops to bear in mind “the iron truth that genuine peace and security are ensured and guaranteed only by powerful strength”.
It is believed that latest test is intended to increase pressure on Washington to move nuclear talks forward.
Last month, North Korea said it had tested what it described as a new “tactical guided weapon”.
That was the first test since the Hanoi summit.
Analysts say a short-range solid fuel ballistic missile was fired on May 4, making this the most serious test since North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017.
However, the test does not violate North Korea’s promise not to test long-range or nuclear missiles.