Updated: 7:10 pm, Thursday, 26 October 2017
The recent warning from North Korea's foreign minister of a possible atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean should be taken literally, a senior North Korean official says.
'The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally,' Ri Yong Pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea's Foreign Ministry, told CNN.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said last month Pyongyang may consider conducting 'the most powerful detonation' of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean amid rising tensions with the US.
Speaking with Sky News, Acting Director of foreign policy defense at the United States Studies Centre Ashley Townshend says if a North Korean nuclear test occurred it would be a demonstration of force.
'North Korea is talking about demonstrating in the most visceral way possible their ability to detonate a nuclear warhead. This would see, for the first time in decades, a mushroom cloud,' Mr Townshend said.
'How likely it is to occur is anyone's guess, we hear a lot of provocation from Pyongyang. No one really knows how serious they are about one test or another, but I think it's important to bear in mind that they are trying to demonstrate their progress made towards having a functional ICBM.'
The minister made the comment after President Donald Trump warned that North Korea, which has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States, would be totally destroyed if it threatened America.
CIA chief Mike Pompeo said last week that North Korea could be only months away from gaining the ability to hit the United States with nuclear weapons.
Experts say an atmospheric test would be a way of demonstrating that capability.
All of North Korea's previous nuclear tests have been conducted underground.
Trump next week will make a visit to Asia during which he will highlight his campaign to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs.
Despite the bellicose rhetoric, White House officials say Trump is looking for a peaceful resolution of the standoff. But all options, including military ones, are on the table.
The US Navy said on Wednesday a third aircraft carrier strike group was now sailing in the Asia-Pacific region, joining two other carriers, the Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt.
Navy officials said the Nimitz, which was previously carrying out operations in support of the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, would be ready to support operations in the region before heading back to its home port.
On Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he would visit the tense demilitarised zone dividing North and South Korea during his Asia tour and responded enigmatically.
'I'd rather not say, but you'll be surprised,' he told reporters.
Reuters
'The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally,' Ri Yong Pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea's Foreign Ministry, told CNN.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said last month Pyongyang may consider conducting 'the most powerful detonation' of a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean amid rising tensions with the US.
Speaking with Sky News, Acting Director of foreign policy defense at the United States Studies Centre Ashley Townshend says if a North Korean nuclear test occurred it would be a demonstration of force.
'North Korea is talking about demonstrating in the most visceral way possible their ability to detonate a nuclear warhead. This would see, for the first time in decades, a mushroom cloud,' Mr Townshend said.
'How likely it is to occur is anyone's guess, we hear a lot of provocation from Pyongyang. No one really knows how serious they are about one test or another, but I think it's important to bear in mind that they are trying to demonstrate their progress made towards having a functional ICBM.'
The minister made the comment after President Donald Trump warned that North Korea, which has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States, would be totally destroyed if it threatened America.
CIA chief Mike Pompeo said last week that North Korea could be only months away from gaining the ability to hit the United States with nuclear weapons.
Experts say an atmospheric test would be a way of demonstrating that capability.
All of North Korea's previous nuclear tests have been conducted underground.
Trump next week will make a visit to Asia during which he will highlight his campaign to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs.
Despite the bellicose rhetoric, White House officials say Trump is looking for a peaceful resolution of the standoff. But all options, including military ones, are on the table.
The US Navy said on Wednesday a third aircraft carrier strike group was now sailing in the Asia-Pacific region, joining two other carriers, the Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt.
Navy officials said the Nimitz, which was previously carrying out operations in support of the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, would be ready to support operations in the region before heading back to its home port.
On Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he would visit the tense demilitarised zone dividing North and South Korea during his Asia tour and responded enigmatically.
'I'd rather not say, but you'll be surprised,' he told reporters.
Reuters
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