Kim Jong Un Promises New Round Of Nuclear Tests, Claims North Korea Has Acquired Outer Space Missile Re-Entry Technology
North Korean "supreme leader" Kim Jong Un promised a new round of nuclear tests in a report on the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday, ramping up claims that his country's military might is far beyond what international experts believe to be the case.
In addition to promising to test nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles "in a short time," according to the Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim also claimed to have successfully tested re-entry technology that would allow the military to direct a missile from space to hit a distant target like the United States.
"We have proudly acquired the re-entry technology possessed by a few countries styling themselves as military powers by dint of self-reliance and self-development," Kim was quoted as saying in the KCNA report.
No evidence, footage or specific details of the re-entry technology or the test that confirmed its capabilities was provided.
South Korean president Park Geun Hye threatened that if North Korea walks "the path of self-destruction by itself, if it does not move toward the path of change while continuing its provocations and strong confrontation with the international community," according to the Yonhap News Service.
But Moon Sang Gyun, a spokesman for the South Korea's Defense Ministry, told NBC news that no one outside North Korea actually believes North Korea actually believes Kim's government is in possession of the technology they claim to be.
"What North Korea announced is a unilateral claim," Moon said. "We believe North Korea has not yet acquired atmospheric re-entry technology."
