N. Korea leader justifies hydrogen bomb test as 'self defense'

Date

1/11/2016 7:00:51 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Seoul-

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un on Sunday justified what he claimed was his country's first hydrogen bomb test as self-defence to prevent nuclear war with the US in his first comments since the explosion.

Pyongyang on Wednesday carried out its fourth nuclear test angering the international community and raising tensions with neighbouring South Korea.

The test was 'a self-defensive step for reliably defending the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the regional security from the danger of nuclear war caused by the US-led imperialists' Kim was quoted as saying.

'It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticise' he added according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The North regularly accuses the US and its ally South Korea of warmongering.

Kim's comments came during a visit to the Ministry of People's Armed Forces to congratulate them on the 'successful' detonation KCNA said without giving the date of the visit.

They echo an official commentary published late Friday which cited toppled leaders Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Moamer Kadhafi in Libya as examples of what happens when countries forsake their nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile the US sent a heavy bomber over South Korea on Sunday in a show of force.

Sunday's overflight saw a B52 Stratofortress which is capable of carrying nuclear weapons briefly roar over the Osan Air Base some 70km south of the inter-Korean border the US military and an eye-witness said.

It was escorted by a South Korean and an American jet.

The B52 conducted a low-level flight before heading back to Andersen Air Base in Guam where it is stationed.

The mission was conducted 'in response to recent provocative action by North Korea' US Forces Korea said in a statement.

The test has angered world powers including the North's key ally China and the UN Security Council has said it will roll out new measures to punish the maverick state.

South Korea has resumed high-decibel propaganda broadcasts across the border in response which the North said were driving the divided peninsula to 'the brink of war'.

The test came just two days before Kim's 33rd birthday and ahead of a rare ruling party congress scheduled to take place in May - the first such gathering for 35 years.

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