– North Korea successfully tested a solid-fuel engine that boosted the power of its ballistic rockets
– South Korean President ordered a heightened state of alert and put the military on standby
The UN secretary-general has warned the world could be facing further conflict – as North Korea steps up its preparedness. As the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches, Antonio Guterres said he fears the world is “sleepwalking into a wider war” with its “eyes wide open”.
Meanwhile, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to toughen the country’s war readiness, at a meeting of the central military commission of the ruling Workers’ Party , discussing the long-term issues over building up its army and major tasks for the military were held.
Referring to the Korean People’s Army, The Korean Central News Agency reported: “There was the issue of constantly expanding and intensifying the operation and combat drills of the Korean People’s army to cope with the prevailing situation and more strictly perfecting the preparedness for war.” This follows a threat to turn the peninsula into a “huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone,” after the country condemned army drills used by the US.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the two countries would expand military drills and deploy aircraft carriers and long-range bombers – to counter North Korea’s weapons development and prevent a war.
When asked about the tensions with North Korea, Austin said the US is committed to defending South Korea and promoting greater security and stability.
North Korea successfully tested a solid-fuel engine that boosted the power of its ballistic rocket as South Korea’s president ordered the military to be ready to respond to the North’s “reckless provocation” the state media reported. Pyongyang’s claim indicates it is continuing to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a rapid pace in defiance of UN sanctions, and amid assessment by the South’s officials that it could conduct a new nuclear test at any time.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye ordered a heightened state of alert and put the military on standby to “respond actively to reckless provocations by the North” . The current tension on the peninsula follows the United Nations Security Council’s recent imposition of tough new sanctions against the North over its nuclear and missile programmes, and as South Korea and the United States conduct annual joint military drills.
The North calls the exercises “nuclear war moves” and has threatened to respond with an all-out offensive, as well as a series of rocket launches in recent days.
