Responding to the joint training drills carried out by the U.S., S. Korean and Japanese air forces on Monday, North Korea stepped up its war-rhetoric and vowed to conduct another nuclear test “at any time.”
The U.S. and South Korea tightened the noose around the North, warning the reclusive state of “swift punitive measures” in case it resorts to further provocative activity with its nuclear and missile expansion programs.
Amid fears that North Korea may carry out another missile or nuclear test, a U.S. submarine arrived in South Korea, further intensifying the tensions sparked by heated rhetorical exchanges over the last week.
The diplomatic ties between North Korea and Malaysia hit a new low on Tuesday as the two nations imposed exit bans on each other’s citizens amid a growing rift over the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.
S. Korea and Japan claimed that the North fired four ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Monday, violating U.N. S. C. resolutions that restrict Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology.
In the latest revelation related to the apparent assassination of N. Korean leader’s half brother, the Malaysian police said on Friday that Kim Jong-nam was killed by a chemical weapon, called V.X. nerve agent.
The announcement came as North Korean embassy dismissed the claims of its involvement in the mysterious assassination and demanded release of its nationals detained in connection with this matter.
The investigation in one of the most high-profile killings linked to N. Korea made headway on Thursday as Malaysian authorities arrested two more suspects in connection with Kim Jong-nam’s assassination.
