Take nuclear test threat literally, says North Korea

WASHINGTON: Therecentwarning fromNorthKorea’sforeignminister of a possible atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Oceanshouldbetakenliterally,a senior North Korean official told CNN in an interview aired on Wednesday.

“The foreign minister is very wellawareoftheintentionsofour supreme leader, so I think you should take his words literally,” Ri Yong Pil, a senior diplomat in North Korea’s foreign ministry, told CNN.

NorthKoreanforeignminister Ri Yong Ho said last month Pyongyang may consider conducting“themostpowerfuldetonation”ofahydrogenbombamid rising tensions with the US.

The minister made the comment after President Donald TrumpwarnedthatNorthKorea, which has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the US, would be totally destroyed if it threatened America.

CIA chief Mike Pompeo said lastweekthatNorthKoreacould be only months away from gaining the ability to hit the US.

Experts say an atmospheric test would be a way of demonstrating that capability. All of North Korea’s previous nuclear testshavebeenconductedunder-

ground. Trump next week will makeavisittoAsiaduringwhich he will highlight his campaign to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programmes.