News / Foreign Policy

US response to N Korea nuke test will be ‘strong’

Monday, 18 April 2016 3:23 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 18 April 2016 3:30 PM ]

A large-scale intensive striking drill of long-range artillery pieces at an undisclosed location in North Korea, March 25, 2016. (AFP photo)

The United States will strongly respond in the event of a fifth nuclear test by North Korea, a senior US government official says, days after Pyongyang's alleged failure to launch a ballistic missile.

The secretive regime conducted its last nuclear test in January, followed by an alleged satellite launch the next month, both in violation of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Under the current UN resolutions, North Korea is banned from using any technology that is related to ballistic missiles.

In early March, the US and China drafted tougher sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program which were approved by the UNSC in a bid to starve Pyongyang of funds for its nuclear weapons.

Speaking in Tokyo on Monday during a visit with Japanese officials, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that North Korea would be putting itself in more trouble if it pursued more provocations.

"There will be an additional strong response in case of another (North Korean) nuclear test," Blinken said, adding that such actions were "unacceptable".

Blinken said Washington would consider "a number of possibilities" and it was "premature" to speak of a specific action just yet.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and carried out four nuclear weapons tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016.

Some experts speculate that North Korea is about to conduct its fifth nuclear test in the near future, following its recent missile failure.

American and South Korean officials said Friday that the North attempted to test-fire a mobile Musudan or BM-25 missile, but it failed.

The alleged launch coincided with the 104th birthday anniversary of the country’s founding leader Kim Il-Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.

The missile is believed to be capable of striking US military bases in Guam Island.

Pyongyang accuses the US of plotting with regional allies to topple its government, and says it will not relinquish its nuclear deterrence unless Washington ends its hostile policy toward Pyongyang and dissolves the US-led UN command in South Korea.

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