North Korea v USA live: North Korea threatens US with 'unexpected gift packages' - latest
NORTH Korea is threatening to send more 'unexpected gift packages’ to America after testing a missile capable of reaching the US last week. Here are live updates and breaking news.
US military tests ICBM missile amid North Korea tensions
- North Korean missile tested on Friday have could hit New York, experts warn
- Air France expands its no-fly zone after the missile misses a passenger jet
- Rex Tillerson tells Kim Jong-un's regime: 'We are not your enemy'
- Donald Trump slams China for 'doing nothing' on the North Korea threat
Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of North Korea's regime, has threatened to send more 'unexpected gift packages’ to the US if it continues its hostile policy against Pyongyang.
An editorial column said: “Every minute and every second, the new reality that US mainland is on the knife's edge of life and death is forcing US administration to wave a white flag and fundamentally change her North Korea policy.
"It is not the denuclearization of N. Korea, but the security of US mainland which should be the top priority of Trump administration.”
Here are the latest threats, live updates and breaking news on Kim Jong-un's North Korea versus Donald Trump's America. (All times BST)
Friday August 4
10.40am: North Korea could develop H-bomb soon, defence expert warns
Harry J. Kazianis, director of defence studies at the Center for the National Interest, has warned that North Korea could succeed in developing a H-bomb soon.
“We should not be surprised if the Communist dictatorship develops a hydrogen bomb – the ultimate atomic weapon – with the potential to kill millions of people,” he wrote in an article for Fox News.
“A Defense Department official I spoke to recently on the condition of not revealing his name told me it now appears the North Koreans are working to finish development of an H-bomb, and that they could succeed in as soon as six to 18 months.”
9am: North Korea slams US travel ban as 'sordid'
North Korea has slammed Washington's decision to ban US passport holders from visiting the North, with state media describing it on Friday as a "sordid" attempt to limit human exchanges.
The North's KCNA news agency, citing an unidentified spokesman for the foreign ministry, said there was no reason for foreigners to feel threatened while in North Korea and that citizens from around the world were encouraged to visit.
"Our doors are always open for all Americans who visit our country out of good will and wish to see our reality," the spokesman said.
The US State Department has said the ban will take effect on September 1, although some, including journalists and humanitarian workers, may apply for exceptions.
6am: US 'prepares to deploy aircraft carriers' to Korean Peninsula
Reports suggest the US is considering an earlier deployment of two of its aircraft carriers to the Korean Peninsula, South Korean officials have said.
8pm: US expected to push for more sanctions
The United States could push for even broader sanctions against North Korea in response to its July 4 ballistic missile test.
Since the launch, the US has been negotiating with Pyongyang’s ally China on a draft UN resolution that would impose more sanctions.
The new deal could include all 15 members of the UN’s Security Council.
"We have been working very hard for some time and we certainly hope that this is going to be a consensus resolution," China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi told Reuters.
5.30pm: North Korea threatens to send 'gift packages' to US
4pm: China welcomes Rex Tillerson’s softer tone
China has welcomed Rex Tillerson’s declaration that the US does not seek to topple the North Korean government and would like dialogue with Pyongyang at some point.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China "attached great importance" to Mr Tillerson's remarks and his reiteration of what Wang called the "Four Nos" principle.
He said: "We hope the US side can put this 'Four Nos' principle into actual policy towards North Korea.”
He added that China hopes all sides can meet each other halfway and through talks find a way of resolving each others security concerns as this is the key for a resolution.
Earlier this week the US Secretary of State told North Korea: "We're not your enemy, we're not your threat but you're presenting an unacceptable threat to us and we have to respond."
The state-run Global Times newspaper said: "Many Americans would think Tillerson is showing weakness, but we see his statement as the most courageous expression from Washington regarding the Korean peninsula issue.
"While (Washington) exerts pressure on North Korea, it should leave some alternatives for Pyongyang and make it believe that abandoning its nuclear and missile programmes will do more good than insisting on this path."
3pm: Airline expands no-fly zone after missile misses passenger jet
Air France is expanding its "non-flyover area around North Korea" after a missile narrowly missed a passenger jet last week.
More than 300 people were on board an Air France flight on Friday when the Hwasong-14 rocket came within 60 miles of the jet before smashing into the sea near Japan.
There are fears the missile tests pose a risk to airliners after a previous launch on July 4 also entered airspace used by commercial planes.
11am: Japan to meet with US over North Korea threat
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan plans to soon hold a "two plus two" meeting of foreign and defence ministers with the US over North Korea's continued missile tests.
"North Korea's recent ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) launches clearly showed that the threat posed by North Korea have grown markedly for both countries," Mr Abe said.
"I believe strengthening the Japan-US alliance is more necessary now than any other time.”
Abe made the comment in a news conference following a cabinet reshuffle, in which Taro Kono, who has strong ties with Washington, replaced Fumio Kishida as new foreign minister.
10am: Asian countries raise "grave concerns" over North Korea's missile tests
More than 20 Asian countries will tell North Korea face to face of their "grave concerns" about its missile tests, a Philippine official said ahead of a regional meeting.
It was unclear what effect such concern could have when North Korea has ignored international warnings to halt its missile and nuclear programmes, including from its lone major ally China and the US and.
North Korea's nuclear ambitions will be high on the agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) meeting on Monday hosted by the Philippines, foreign ministry spokesman Robespierre Bolivar told reporters.
"The ARF is the only venue thus far that we have to promote candid and free-flow dialogue and to actually express our concerns to the DPRK side in a face-to-face manner," Bolivar said.
10am: US tests intercontinental ballistic missile
The US launched an intercontinental ballistic missile was from Vandenberg Air Force Base early on Wednesday.
America’s Air Force Global Strike Command said it was testing the weapon’s reliability to “defend against attacks on the United States and its allies.”
It said the test was “not a response to recent North Korean actions” but the demonstrated that the US’ nuclear enterprise is “safe, secure, effective” and can protect against strikes.