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Hwasong-18 launch showed North Korea is ready to respond to United States

Pyongyang ought to retaliate with more active offensive actions employing more advanced and threatening options if Washington takes further unfriendly acts, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

TOKYO, December 19. /TASS/. The successful launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile showed that North Korea is for any "wrong decisions" the United States can make against Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said.

"We have made a strong statement to adversarial forces, which are increasing their military confrontational frenzy that has persisted all year, in spite of our constant harsh warnings and denunciations. The drills made it quite evident what prompt response we are prepared for and what we will do if Washington makes any wrong decision against us," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted him as saying.

In his view, Pyongyang ought to retaliate with more active offensive actions employing more advanced and threatening options if Washington takes further unfriendly acts.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense estimated that the missile tested on December 18, could cover the whole territory of the United States with a range of over 15,000 km if launched from a normal trajectory. North Korean activities were denounced by the United States, South Korea, Japan, and several other nations. In reaction to the launch, Seoul is considering organizing special forces drills to rehearse operations to remove Pyongyang's military-political leadership.

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North Korea United States Kim Jong Un

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