North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country intends to have the world’s most powerful nuclear force as he promoted dozens of military officers involved in the recent launch of a new ballistic missile, state media reported on Sunday.

The announcement comes after Kim inspected a Nov. 18 test of the Hwasong-17, North Korea’s largest intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, and pledged to counter what he called U.S. nuclear threats.

North Korea’s “ultimate goal is to possess the world’s most powerful strategic force, the absolute force unprecedented in the century,” Kim said in the order promoting the officers, adding that building up the country’s nuclear capabilities would reliably protect the dignity and sovereignty of the state and the people.

He described the Hwasong-17 as the “world’s strongest strategic weapon” and said it demonstrated North Korea’s resolve and ability to eventually build the world’s strongest army.

North Korean scientists have made a “wonderful leap forward in the development of the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles,” and were expected to expand and strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrent capabilities at an extraordinarily rapid pace, Kim was also quoted as saying.

Kim was pictured in photos posing with scientists, engineers and military officials involved in the test.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Iraq Emerges as New Front for Enforcement of Iran Oil Sanctions

The Iraqi port of Al Faw, in 2015, where U.S. officials say…

Plagued with shortages, registration issues, NYC sees bumpy vaccine rollout

The rumors began circulating early in the day: Several hundred extra doses…

Zelenskyy invokes history and makes some of his own

WASHINGTON — When Winston Churchill addressed Congress in the Senate chamber the…

Singer Trey Songz under investigation after alleged sexual assault in Las Vegas

R&B singer Trey Songz is being investigated after an alleged sexual assault,…