North Koreans speak of delight at latest nuclear test, saying it makes them feel 'really strong'
'Now we have everything we need. We can hit our enemies when they are at home or in their bases abroad'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.North Koreans have spoken of their delight at their country’s latest nuclear missile test, which it called a “perfect success”.
Several North Koreans interviewed in the streets of the capital, Pyongyang, praised the bomb test.
“It makes me feel really strong,” one said. “Now, how can our enemies dare to covet our fatherland?”
He added: “Now we have everything we need. We can hit our enemies when they are at home or in their bases abroad. It makes me feel really strong.”
Another said: “I felt again that we are a strong nuclear state. Since we have our Marshall, we don’t have to be frightened of anything.”
North Korea’s state-run television broadcast a special bulletin to announce the test, saying Kim Jong-un attended a meeting of the ruling party’s presidium and signed the go-ahead order.
Earlier in the day, the party’s newspaper ran a front-page story showing photos of Mr Kim examining what it said was a nuclear warhead being fitted onto the nose of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
North Korea conducted two nuclear tests last year, the last nearly a year ago, on the 9 September anniversary of the nation’s founding. It has been launching missiles at a record pace this year.
It conducted its most provocative launch yet last month, in response to ongoing US-South Korea military exercises, when it fired a potentially nuclear-capable midrange missile over northern Japan.
It said that launch was the “curtain-raiser” for more activity to come.
Photos showed Mr Kim talking with his lieutenants as he observed a silver, peanut-shaped device the state-run media said was a thermonuclear weapon designed to be mounted on the North’s “Hwasong-14” ICBM.
The North claims the device has explosive power that can range from tens to hundreds of kilotons.
Mr Kim, according to the statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, claimed all components of the device were domestically produced, which he said means the North can make “as many as it wants.”
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments