Hong Kong. October 21. INTERFAX - North Korea has said that its recent test launch of a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was not aimed at the United States.
"Since our test launch was planned solely for national defense, and not to consider or target the United States, there is no need to worry or suffer," a spokesman for the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement distributed by the Korean Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA).
According to the North, the criticism of the United States regarding the country's development of weapons is a "double standard" that casts doubt on the authenticity of Washington's claims that it does not harbor hostility to Pyongyang.
According to him, if the United States does not object to the "legitimate exercise of sovereignty," "there will never be an incident that increases tensions on the Korean peninsula."
"But if the United States and its followers make the wrong choice, it can serve as a catalyst for more serious consequences," the representative of the DPRK Foreign Ministry warned.
The US condemned North Korea's recent missile tests, but confirmed that it remains committed to dialogue with Pyongyang.
"We have been declaring our openness to having these discussions with North Korea for months," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday.
North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile from a submarine on Tuesday afternoon.
"The new ballistic missile designed for submarines will allow us to advance further in the field of defense technologies. Our fleet will receive additional opportunities for actions under water," Yonhap writes with reference to the official media of the DPRK.
