WASHINGTON: The United States on Sunday (Jan 1) sharply condemned a North Korean plan to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile and warned Pyongyang against « provocative actions. «
The toughly worded US statement called on « all states » to show the North that any unlawful actions would have « consequences. «
It was issued by the Pentagon at a sensitive time – just weeks before President Barack Obama is due to hand power over to his successor, Donald Trump.
The statement came hours after Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, said his country was close to testing such a missile, which would be capable of reaching American shores.
« We are in the final stages of test-launching the intercontinental ballistic missile, » Kim said in a televised New Year’s speech, pointing to a string of nuclear and missile tests last year.
