North Korea denounces US ‘double-standards’ over South’s missile tests
Statement by North Korea's National Defence Commission appears to say Pyongyang should be treated in the same way as Seoul when it comes to testing missiles
North Korea on Friday accused the United States of hypocrisy for remaining silent over a South Korean missile test while condemning Pyongyang’s recent launches.
“The US double-dealing attitude and despicable mode of action has been brought to light,” a spokesman for the North’s powerful National Defence Commission (NDC) said in a statement.
The statement, carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency, comes at a time of elevated military tensions, with Pyongyang threatening a “new” type of nuclear test.
“The US double-dealing attitude and despicable mode of action has been brought to light.”
“As long as the US persists in its hostile policy ... according to its high-handed, arbitrary and gangster-like double standards, [North Korea] will push ahead with countermeasures for self-defence to put an end to the policy,” the spokesman said.
His remarks were triggered by South Korea’s test-firing last month of a new ballistic missile capable of carrying a one-tonne payload to any part of North Korea.
The missile was developed under an agreement reached in 2012 with the United States to almost triple the range of the South’s ballistic missile systems.
The NDC spokesman said the silence that greeted the South Korean launch was in sharp contrast to the US and UN condemnation of the North’s recent test of two medium-range ballistic missiles.
