North Korean Ambassador Claims His Country Has Right To Test Weapon Systems

JAKARTA - North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations on Monday called on the United States to stop its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang, saying no one can deny his country's right to self-defense and test weapons.

Just before Ambassador Kim Song gave a speech at the 76th UN General Assembly, South Korea's military said North Korea had fired an unidentified projectile into the sea off its east coast.

Meanwhile, Japan's Defense Ministry said the launch could be a ballistic missile.

"No one can deny the DPRK's true self-defense right to develop, test, manufacture and possess weapons systems, equivalent to those owned or developed by them," Kim said, referring to the United States and South Korea, and using the acronym. for North Korea's official name, citing Reuters 28 September.

He said it was North Korea's growing deterrent that was responsible for preventing war on the Korean peninsula, not a gift from the United States.

Kim said North Korea would never violate or endanger the security of the United States, South Korea and neighboring countries.

"We are only building our national defense to defend ourselves and reliably maintain the security and peace of the country," he said.

If the United States ceases its hostile policy, North Korea will respond willingly at any time.

"But in our assessment, there is no prospect at the current stage for the United States to actually withdraw its hostile policy," Kim said.

Referring to last week's call at the United Nations by South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Kim said if Washington wanted this, they should permanently stop joint military exercises with South Korea and South Korea. deployment of strategic weapons in and around the peninsula.