Matsegora: “Nuclear testing is not a desirable action.”
“If a nuclear test is conducted, the United States and its allies will be responsible.”
Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora threatened that if the United States continues its provocations, it may conduct a nuclear test.
According to RIA Novosti on the 10th (local time), Ambassador Matsegora said, “We do not rule out that if U.S. provocations continue and the risk increases, the North Korean leadership will have no choice but to decide to conduct a nuclear test to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.” He said.
He continued, “Of course, this is an undesirable scenario,” but added, “If a nuclear test is conducted, the responsibility lies entirely with the United States and its allies.”
On the 19th of last month, North Korea announced through the Korean Central News Agency that it had tested an underwater nuclear weapons system in protest against the joint maritime exercises between South Korea, the United States, and Japan that took place from the 15th to the 17th of the same month.
In a statement titled ‘We will never condone the madness of reckless military confrontation,’ a North Korean Ministry of Defense spokesperson said, “It is an act that seriously threatens the security of our nation.” “The important test of ‘5-23’ was conducted in the waters of the East Sea of Joseon,” he said.
Tsunami, known as an underwater nuclear torpedo, is a nuclear unmanned underwater attack vehicle developed by North Korea. North Korea first disclosed that it had developed and tested ‘Tsunami-1’ on March 28 last year. On April 8 of the same year, it was announced that ‘Tsunami-2’ had been tested.
Previously, the South Korean and U.S. navies and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force held their first maritime exercise of the year in the high seas south of Jeju from the 15th to the 17th of last month to respond to North Korea’s nuclear, missile and underwater threats.
A total of 9 ships participated in the training, including 2 ships including the Korean Navy’s Aegis destroyer USS Sejong the Great, 5 ships including the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson of the US Navy’s 1st Carrier Strike Group, and 2 ships including the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Aegis destroyer USS Congo.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.