North Korea calls Trump a "frightened old lunatic"
Last week, North Korea successfully test fired its highest-ever nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Hwasong-15. The test was followed by Pyongyang's increasingly belligerent rhetoric against the US and its regional allies. State-run KCNA called US President Donald Trump a "frightened old lunatic" and Japanese President Shinzo Abe a "cult" leader. This comes as tensions simmer over a major US-South Korea military exercise in the region.
North Korea launches highest-ever missile that reached 4,500km altitude
On November 29, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which reached an altitude of 4,500km and flew 960km. The missile, the North's highest-ever ICBM test, landed in Japanese waters. US President Donald Trump responded by saying, "We will take care of it." This is the latest in a series of Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests, leading to simmering regional tensions.
US sends F-22 stealth fighters to participate in joint drills
Around 230 American and South Korean warplanes, supported by 12,000 ground troops, are participating in the yearly Vigilant Ace 18 air combat joint exercise. The US' most advanced stealth fighters jets, F-22 and F-35, are also participating in the drills. KCNA said the "ceaseless large-scale war games... creating a situation that a nuclear war may break out any moment."
North Korea: "insane President Trump is running wild"
An editorial in KCNA states that the completion of North Korea's nuclear force is "the greatest glory of Kim Jong-un who frightened old lunatic Trump and his stooges." A senior North Korean official responded to US-South Korean military exercises this week by saying, "insane President Trump is running wild... stunned by North Korea completing the state nuclear force."
North Korea says Japan will 'plunge into abyss of ruin'
A KCNA editorial has slammed the "cult" of Japanese PM Shinzo Abe who is looking to boost his country's military. It accused Japan of conducting "militarist moves to realize the wild scheme for re-invading Korea." Japan's "crazy drive of militarist chariot with the backing of the US will only plunge it into an abyss of ruin," the editorial added.
