North Korea “will test missiles weekly,” top official saysApril 18, 2017 - 15:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - North Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has told the BBC in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the U.S., the news agency reports. "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis," Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol said. He noted that an "all-out war" would result if the U.S. took military action. Earlier, U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to test the U.S.. He said his country's "era of strategic patience" with North Korea was over. Pence arrived in Seoul on Sunday, April 16 hours after Pyongyang carried out a failed missile launch. On Tuesday, while visiting Tokyo, he called the North Korea regime "the most ominous threat" to the region. He reiterated that while the U.S. and allies would exert economic pressure, "all options are on the table" in dealing with Pyongyang. Tensions have been escalating on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the U.S.. Han told the BBC: "If the U.S. is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method." Photo: AP Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. |