Home

The Korea Herald

Latest news

Most Popular

  1. 1

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote

    Contentious grain bill put directly to plenary meeting for vote
  2. 2

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low

    Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
  3. 3

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?

    Will tug-of-war between doctors, government end soon?
  4. 4

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth

    Climate impacts set to cut 2050 global GDP by nearly a fifth
  5. 5

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen

    Trilateral talks acknowledge ‘serious’ slumps of won, yen
  1. 6

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year

    [Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
  2. 7

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs

    [KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
  3. 8

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South

    North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
  4. 9

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official

    Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
  5. 10

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023

    Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
지나쌤

N. Korea slams Japanese minister over criticism of weapons tests

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 24, 2019 - 20:40

    • Link copied

North Korea's state media slammed Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday for his criticism of the North's weapons tests, which it said were aimed at enhancing the country's "self-defense" capability. 

Kono criticized North Korea last week over a series of weapons tests since May, saying the presumed launches of ballistic missiles represent an "imminent threat" to the security of Japan. 

North Korea has said that those tests were intended to improve its self-defense capability without mentioning whether they involved ballistic missiles, which would constitute a violation of international sanctions.

"Days ago, Japanese Defense Minister Kono, terming the DPRK's measure for increasing capabilities for self-defense a 'ballistic missile launch,' solicited for international support," the Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 

(Reuters) (Reuters)

"He again ranted about 'imminent threat from North Korea aboard the escort warship Izumo re-modeled into an aircraft carrier. This stems from his deep-seated hostility toward the DPRK," it added. 

The KCNA emphasized that the tests do not pose any threat to Japan. 

"Nonetheless, Japan is instigating the international pressure on the DPRK under the pretext of the unreasonable 'threat'. This shows that it seeks a sordid intention, not the security of its country and region," it said.

The KCNA criticized Japan for its hypocrisy in asking for "dialogue without preconditions" while at the same time rallying the international community for greater sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang.

"It is useless for Japan to keep raving about 'threat' and 'provocation,'" it said. "Japan's shameless and narrow-minded behavior turning black into white and acting flippantly will only make its miserable entity as a political dwarf stand out." (Yonhap)

More from Headlines