North Korea will reach its nuclear force goal: Kim Jong-un

Hong Kong: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has "vowed" to reach the country's "nuclear goals" aimed at establishing "equilibrium" of military force with the US, the official KCNA news agency said in Pyongyang. Mr Kim's comments come after North Korea fired its latest missile over Japan what is being described as the country's farthest-reaching test, the BBC News said today.

The move split world powers who united behind new UN sanctions against North Korea just days ago. "We should clearly show the big power chauvinists how our state attain the goal of completing its nuclear force despite their limitless sanctions and blockade," Mr Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

He also said North Korea's goal was "to establish the equilibrium of real force with the US and make the US rulers dare not talk about military option for the DPRK [North Korea]". The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting, in which members unanimously condemned the launch as "highly provocative" - coming as it did after Pyongyang's nuclear bomb test on 3 September.

US President Donald Trump said North Korea had "once again shown its utter contempt for its neighbours, and the entire world community", but that he felt more confident than ever that the US was ready should a military option be needed. But Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasiliy Nebenzia, urged caution, saying: "We think that threats, tests, launches, and mutual threats in fact should be stopped, and that we should engage in meaningful negotiations." (UNI)