North Korea says missile exams self-defence in opposition to U.S. army threats -KCNA By Reuters

By Joyce Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea mentioned on Saturday its missile exams are for self-defence in opposition to direct U.S. army threats and so they haven’t harmed the security of neighbouring international locations and areas.

North Korea carried out six missile launches in 12 days as of this week, together with launching an intermediate-range missile over Japan on Tuesday.

“Our missile exams are a traditional, deliberate self-defence measure to guard our nation’s safety and regional peace from direct U.S. army threats,” mentioned state media KCNA, citing an aviation administration spokesperson.

The missile exams “didn’t pose any menace or hurt to the security of civil aviation in addition to the security of neighbouring international locations and areas, by a full consideration of civil aviation security upfront.”

The message was in response to the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group Council condemning North Korea’s missile launches for posing a critical security danger to worldwide civil aviation, KCNA mentioned.

North Korea’s defence ministry was “taking a stern have a look at the event of the present scenario, which could be very worrisome,” concerning U.S.-South Korean drills involving the nuclear-powered U.S. plane provider USS Ronald Reagan, KCNA mentioned in a separate assertion.

America and South Korea held joint maritime workouts on Friday, a day after Seoul scrambled fighter jets in response to an obvious North Korean bombing drill.

America additionally introduced new sanctions on Friday in response to North Korea’s newest missile launches.