South Korea, US, Japan seek retaliatory actions over North Korea’s missile launch

Thursday, August 25, 2016 | 18:36:39

(VOVworld) – Top South Korean and US envoys on North Korea agreed Thursday to seek more retaliatory actions against North Korea's recent launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, Kim Hong-kyun, had a telephone conversation with Sung Kim, US special representative on North Korean policy earlier that day.

South Korea, US, Japan seek retaliatory actions over North Korea’s missile launch - ảnh 1

An image purportedly of the launch released by North Korean news agency Rodong Sinmun.

They also discussed how to respond to North Korea’s resumption of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons.

The call was arranged the day after North Korea fired an SLBM in the East Sea, the third sub launched missile by the country this year. The projectile flew about 500 kilometers before landing in waters near Japan, drawing condemnation from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington as well as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The KCNA on Thursday reported that North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, called the launch of the Pukguksong ballistic missile the "greatest success and victory". He noted that the results of the test-fire proved in actuality that the DPRK had joined the front rank of military powers fully equipped with nuclear attack capabilities. Kim warned that the US mainland and its military bases in the Pacific were now within North Korea's "striking range".