Pyongyang ramps up the rhetoric with Seoul in the South
- North Korea releases video of missile test
- Seoul says it is archive footage
- Tensions rise after North Korea claims to have tested an atomic bomb
The news
ADVERTISEMENTNorth Korea has released video footage of what it suggests is a fresh missile test.
Pyongyang says the missile was fired from a submarine.
#NorthKorea releases video of ‘new’ missile test https://t.co/0ljmWNq7U0pic.twitter.com/vk5f6UZEIT
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 9, 2016
The video, which is not dated, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un witnessing the test from the deck of a naval vessel.
South Korean media outlets say the video is in fact a montage of archive footage from missile tests in 2014 and 2015.
North Korea first claimed to have successfully tested a submarine-launched missile in May 2015.
A second, unsuccessful, test is thought to have taken place in November 2015.
The context
“The nuclear test is making North Korea more isolated and turning it into the land of death.” https://t.co/YMIbauVniq
— VICE News (@vicenews) January 8, 2016
Tensions are already high on the Korean peninsula.
100,000 rally in Pyongyang in show of support for North Korea's 'H-bomb test' https://t.co/0NAiE6bKEmpic.twitter.com/uIGoya026C
— ITV News (@itvnews) January 8, 2016
Seoul resumed propaganda broadcasts against Pyongyang on Friday after North Korea announced earlier this week that it had successfully tested a hydrogen nuclear device.
Guardian front page, Thursday 7 January 2016: North Korea’s ‘hydrogen bomb’ sends shockwaves through UN pic.twitter.com/NukukkOKo5
— The Guardian (@guardian) January 6, 2016
North Korea is forbidden from developing any kind of nuclear weapon by the UN Security Council.
Several resolutions are already in place.
Kim Jong-Un declares North Korean submarine missile launch test 'an eye-opening miracle' after critics in the West … pic.twitter.com/5FoczDKym4
— DailyNew5 (@DailyNew5) May 26, 2015
Nonetheless, South Korean military experts think Pyongyang is actively pursuing the development of missiles launched by submarine.
Analsyts say this would lift the threat to a new level.
What they are saying about North Korea’s actions?
“A threat to international security that requires new UN measures against the regime” – UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond
“Dangerous and provocative” – potential US Democrat presidential contender Hillary Clinton
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“China should solve that problem” – potential US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump
“I condemn it unequivocally” – UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon
“China firmly opposes this. We urge North Korea to fulfill its promise of denuclearisation and stop any actions that would worsen the situation.” – Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunving