NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR THREAT TO UK
Defence Secretary warns Kim Jong-un’s missiles could soon reach Britain
BRITAIN could soon be within range of Kim Jong-un’s nukes, Sir Michael Fallon has warned.
The Defence Secretary said yesterday of the crisis, “this involves us”, adding that North Korea is nearer to London than Los Angeles.
Sir Michael also warned of the growing risk of a “miscalculation or accident” triggering nuclear war.
The range is getting longer. London is closer to North Korea than Los Angeles is SIR MICHAEL FALLON ON THE GROWING THREAT FROM KIM
SIR Michael Fallon says Kim Jong-un’s nuclear weapons programme must be ended rapidly – otherwise the despot could soon attack Britain.
The Defence Secretary stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to the North Korea crisis by saying war must be avoided “at all costs”.
Kim’s threats have been directed at the US but Sir Michael warned that Britain is in grave danger too.
He said: “This involves us. London is closer to North Korea and its missiles than Los Angeles [is].”
Pyongyang is 5,380 miles from London and 6,000 from LA.
Kim has boasted his latest missiles can reach the whole of the US mainland but experts disagree on how far the missiles can travel or whether they can deliver a nuclear strike.
Sir Michael said he is “very concerned” as North Korea’s weapons tests continue to escalate.
Quizzed on whether the bombs could reach London, Sir Michael replied: “Not yet… The range is getting longer and longer and we have to get this programme halted.”
He warned yesterday the danger of a “miscalculation” or “some accident” that might trigger World War Three is “extremely great”.
Speaking on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show, Sir Michael said efforts were ongoing at the United Nations to ensure sanctions bring Kim to heel.
A senior Whitehall source has revealed ministers have been taken aback by the speed that North Korea’s nuclear missile programme has developed. The insider added: “Britain has to be engaged in seeking a diplomatic solution to this crisis. This isn’t something we can just sit out.”
It comes days after Pyongyang claimed to have exploded a hydrogen bomb capable of being delivered on an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Experts think it was a 100-kiloton bomb. A weapon of that power would kill hundreds of thousands and injure many more if dropped on London.
The fallout would affect millions. Depending on weather conditions deadly radiation could reach places more than 100 miles away.
Photos have emerged of Kim during a celebration for scientists who worked on the recent test.
His wife Ri Sol-ju, making a rare public appearance, was at his side.
North Korea, which recently fired a rocket over Japan, said at the weekend it is “preposterous” to think Pyongyang would attack Europe.