The South Korean military said North Korea launched a suspected ballistic into the sea early Tuesday morning. Shortly after the test was reported, North Korea’s ambassador addressed the UN General Assembly and called on the US to drop its “hostile policy.”
“If the US wants to see the Korean War, the most prolonged and long-lasting war in the world, come to an end, and if it is really desirous of peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, it should take the first step towards giving up its hostile policy,” said Ambassador Kim Song.
Kim said a first step the US could take would be to end joint military exercises with South Korea and end the deployment of “all kinds of strategic weapons” to the Peninsula. Pyongyang also seeks sanctions relief from the US.
Kim said at the UN that North Korea has the right to conduct missile tests. “We are just building up our national defense in order to defend ourselves and reliably safeguard the security and peace of the country,” he said.
North Korea conducted missile tests earlier this month, prompting South Korea to conduct tests of its own and release footage of new missiles it is developing. South Korea tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile, making it the first non-nuclear armed state to have such a weapon.
At the end of last week, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said Pyongyang was willing to return to talks with Seoul if certain conditions were met. South Korea responded and said to get closer to negotiations, the two countries should reestablish cross-border communication lines that have been suspended.