Politics
14:41, 02-Jan-2017
US, S Korea condemn planned DPRK rocket test
Updated
10:30, 28-Jun-2018
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The US on Sunday sharply condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) claims that it will test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile and warned Pyongyang against “provocative actions.”
US State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen said Washington was calling on “all states” to show the DPRK that any unlawful actions would have “consequences.”
South Korea for its part said the DPRK should refrain from any acts that worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The statements came hours after Kim Jong Un, the DPRK leader, said his country was close to testing such a missile, which would be capable of reaching American shores, during a New Year speech to his country.
In his speech, Kim accused the US of invading and interfering in the Asia-Pacific region through South Korea.
He also said it was necessary to "smash the activities of anti-unification traitors," referring to South Korea's impeached president Park Geun-hye.
The DPRK has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
Pyongyang conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on September 9. It also carried out ballistic missile tests at an unprecedented rate in 2016.