North Korea says US overreacting to missile test
21 October, 2021
North Korea said on Thursday (Oct 21) the United States was overreacting to its recent missile test and questioned the sincerity of Washington's offers of talks, accusing it of operating "double standards" over weapons development.
Pyongyang has said in recent weeks that its weapons tests are aimed at boosting its defence capabilities just as other countries do, accusing the United States, South Korea and the United Nations of adopting a hostile policy and "double standards".
This week's test of a new ballistic missile from a submarine was North Korea's normal activity to carry out its mid- and long-term defence plan and was not aimed at the United States or any other country, an unnamed spokesperson at Pyongyang's foreign ministry said, according to the official KCNA news agency.
The spokesperson said Washington had nonetheless taken "very provocative moves" by calling for a gathering of the UN Security Council. The Security Council met on Wednesday following a request from the United States.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged Pyongyang to comply with UN sanctions banning nuclear and missile tests and accept offers of talks, reiterating that Washington has no hostile intent toward it.
"It is time to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue toward the goal of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," she told reporters, adding the United States has offered to meet "without any preconditions".
The North's foreign ministry spokesperson said the United States' "double standards" over missile development cast doubt over its overtures.
This week's test of a new ballistic missile from a submarine was North Korea's normal activity to carry out its mid- and long-term defence plan and was not aimed at the United States or any other country, an unnamed spokesperson at Pyongyang's foreign ministry said, according to the official KCNA news agency.
The spokesperson said Washington had nonetheless taken "very provocative moves" by calling for a gathering of the UN Security Council. The Security Council met on Wednesday following a request from the United States.
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, urged Pyongyang to comply with UN sanctions banning nuclear and missile tests and accept offers of talks, reiterating that Washington has no hostile intent toward it.
"It is time to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue toward the goal of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula," she told reporters, adding the United States has offered to meet "without any preconditions".
The North's foreign ministry spokesperson said the United States' "double standards" over missile development cast doubt over its overtures.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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