Ruthless Jong-un’s nukes ‘will have UK in range next year’
NORTH Korea will almost certainly be able to hit Britain with a nuclear strike within 18 months if its weapons programme continues at the same pace, MPs have warned.
They said it was a “reasonable assumption” that Kim Jong-un’s regime could already target the UK. But they added there was no sign the state wanted to turn its nukes on us.
The study by the Commons Defence Committee said: “It is obvious to North Korea that launching such weapons would lead to devastating military consequences from the US, South Korea and other countries.
“It would result in the annihilation of the regime – the opposite of what Kim Jong-un is seeking to achieve. He is ruthless, like other Communist dictators, but he is rational.”
The report added: “We do not believe North Korea regards the UK as a primary target – its goal being to threaten the United States mainland.” But it warned: “The UK has only limited ballistic missile defence if North Korea decided to launch a missile at the UK.” Tensions escalated in 2016 and 2017 when the rogue regime carried out brazen nuclear tests.
Announcing talks between Kim and the US, South Korea claimed the North Korean leader was committed to dismantling its nuclear arsenal. But committee chairman Julian Lewis said: “We are sceptical North Korea would give it up, now it’s on the verge of success.”
MPs also warned that Britain is still at risk from North Korean cyber attacks.