TOKYO, December 21. /TASS/. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) will not hesitate to respond with a nuclear strike to any incitement by an adversary related to the use of nuclear arms against the country, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), at a meeting with the servicemen of the Second Red Banner Company, who participated in the recent launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), "Comrade Kim Jong Un said that he was deeply impressed with the combat efficiency of the company, which displayed high mobility and rapid attack capability in the launching drill. Comrade Kim Jong Un said that the company’s actions demonstrated the loyalty and firm stance of the armed forces defending the sovereignty of the DPRK." According to Kim, the launch also demonstrated that the DPRK is ready "to deliver a nuclear strike without hesitation if enemies set up a provocation against it with the use of nuclear weapons."

On December 18, North Korea held successful trials of the Hwasong-18 ICBM in response to hostile actions by the US and South Korea. It was noted that in 4,415 seconds the missile traveled 1,002.3 km at a maximum altitude of 6,518.2 km "and hit precisely the intended waters." Earlier, Tokyo said that the missile dropped outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Sea of Japan 250 km west of Okushiri Island, which is located 20 km away from Hokkaido.

The KCNA pointed out that the launch had not adversely affected the security of neighboring countries.