World on the brink as North Korea rushes terrifying new weapon to the border
North Korea's border force was handed 250 tactical ballistic missile launchers during a ceremony supervised by Kim Jong-un.
North Korea has reignited fears of a new conflict after the rogue nation deployed a set of terrifying new weapons to its border.
Border guards received 250 new launchers of tactical ballistic missiles produced locally over the weekends according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The agency hailed the event as a demonstration of the "indefinite development of the national defence capabilities" and efforts to "modernise" Pyongyang's army.
Kim Jong-un reportedly supervised the handover ceremony after ordering the development of a new tactical ballistic missile launcher to boost North Korea's attack capabilities.
Kim insisted improving military capabilities is the most important goal he will be pursuing.
KCNA reported: "Kim Jong Un noted that holding a ceremony of transferring the new-type weapon system... is a manifestation of the firm will of our Party to push ahead with the bolstering of defence capabilities, the fundamental guarantee for safeguarding the people and sovereignty, without stopping in any circumstances, and is the invariable principled stand maintained by us in the state building."
"Kim Jong Un expressed the belief that the latest weapons, another firm stepping stone for injecting vitality into the name and flag of the DPRK and remarkably enhancing its prestige, would demonstrate their might as a powerful treasured sword for defending the sovereignty of the country and peace."
Concerns about Kim’s nuclear programme have grown as he has demonstrated an intent to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons along the North’s border with South Korea.
He also authorised his military to respond with preemptive nuclear strikes if it perceived the leadership as under threat.
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Pyongyang has been expanding its lineup of mobile short-range weapons designed to overwhelm missile defences in South Korea, while also pursuing intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the US mainland.
Kim’s intensifying weapons tests and threats are widely seen as an attempt at pressuring the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and to end US-led sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear program.
North Korea also could seek to dial up tensions in a US election year, experts say.
The North in recent months has revealed a new missile called the Hwasong-11, which analysts say can travel up to 62 miles.
If deployed in frontline areas, the missiles would theoretically be able to cover huge swaths of South Korea’s greater capital area, where about half of the country’s 51 million people live.
