North Korea says it has proven it can launch a ‘large scale heavy nuclear warhead’

(Photo by ISC Kosmotras)

North Korea is pushing its nuclear agenda despite threats from the USA and others:

May 15, 2017

SEOUL — Just days after being elected, South Korean President Moon Jae-in faced his first North Korean provocation, putting an early test to his stated policy to pursue peaceful dialogue with his defiant nuclear neighbor.

The South Korean leader expressed solidarity with the United States and Japan by condemning North Korea for conducting what is believed to be the successful test of a new two-stage liquid fueled rocket on Sunday capable of flying up to 4,500 kilometers. The North Korean state news agency KCNA on Monday said the test was to verify the capability to carry a “large scale heavy nuclear warhead,” and the missile flew 787 kilometers, reaching an altitude of 2,111 kilometers.

President Moon warned Pyongyang that provocations will be met with “stern responses.” He also called for the development of the Korean Air and Missile Defense system to be used in addition to, or in lieu of, the controversial U.S. THAAD missile shield that China objects to as a threatening increase of American military capabilities in the region.

Conditional dialogue

As a candidate Moon promised to pursue negotiations and engagement with Pyongyang. But as the new commander in chief of the military, he stressed that “dialogue is possible only when North Korea changes its behavior.”

Moon’s clarified position on conditional talks seems fundamentally the same as that of U.S. President Donald Trump, and essentially the same as past American and South Korean administrations.

“Seoul and Washington remain on the same page that the ultimate goal, that cannot be compromised, is the dismantlement of North Korea’s WMD (weapons of mass destruction) capability and facilities,” said political analyst Bong Young-shik with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul.

North Korea, in defiance of international sanctions, has openly declared itself a de facto nuclear state. The Kim Jong Un government considers its continued efforts to develop a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland as essential to its survival. http://www.voanews.com/a/new-south-korean-president-tested-by-latest-north-korean-missile/3851457.html

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the launch, but seems to also have sent a message to the USA:

May 15, 2017

Beijing (CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned North Korea’s latest missile launch as “dangerous” but warned against “intimidating” Pyongyang.

Speaking in China, Putin called for a peaceful solution to the ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported.

“I would like to confirm that we are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear states, including through the Korean Peninsula,” Putin told reporters. “We are against it and consider it counterproductive, damaging, dangerous,” he said.

But in comments that appeared aimed at the US, he said that “intimidating (North Korea) is unacceptable.”

For its part, North Korea said the missile test was in response to the nuclear dangers and threats posed by the US and its followers.

“We will conduct ICBM tests anytime and anywhere in accordance with the decisions made by our central leadership,” North Korea’s ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong said at an impromptu press conference at the country’s embassy in Beijing Monday. http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/15/europe/north-korea-putin-russia-missile/

Notice also the following:

May 15, 2017

North Korea said on Monday it had successfully conducted a mid- to-long-range missile test and would continue such launches “any time, any place”, defying UN Security Council resolutions and warnings from the United States.

North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy the United States in a sea of flames, has accused Washington of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war with recent military drills with South Korea and Japan. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-idUSKCN18A12B

May 15, 2017

Last night, North Korea said the missile had the capacity to carry a “large scale heavy nuclear warhead,” but then again, North Korea says a lot of things, many of which aren’t true.

What struck me as especially interesting, at least as far as domestic politics is concerned, was the written statement from Donald Trump’s White House.

“With the missile impacting so close to Russian soil – in fact, closer to Russia than to Japan – [Trump] cannot imagine that Russia is pleased,” the White House statement said.

As White House reactions to North Korean misconduct go, this is a pretty odd statement. The missile launch really didn’t have much to do with Russia, but Trump nevertheless appears eager to rope them in – as if the White House is looking for some country that might be willing to help solve a problem Trump doesn’t know how to address.

It was therefore of great interest when Russia said it was largely unconcerned.

Hours after President Trump’s comment, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the North Korean missile posed “no danger” to Russia because it flew at a “significant distance” from the coast, Interfax said, citing a ministry statement.

So, Trump told North Korea not to launch, and it did anyway. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-looks-help-russia-north-korea

The USA is considering both a diplomatic and military “solution” to North Korea. The continued missile tests by North Korea are apt to push Donald Trump to the point of intervention. As far as MSNBC’s characterization of Donald Trump’s statement as odd, the reality is that he wants to keep the North Koreans guessing.

North Korean politicians have often been playing a dangerous game with their country and their people, and hopefully they will realize, sooner than later, that a military conflict is not in their interests.

North Korea is one of relatively few small nations to have nuclear weapons and often brags about them and their potential use.

The Bible says:

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:16-18)

Sadly, that is the case with North Korea. It will take the return of Jesus and the Kingdom of God to truly bring peace.

While North Korea is not prophesied to take over the USA (Europe is per Daniel 11:39, etc.), as I wrote in the past, it certainly is possible that it may decide to actually launch one or more missiles at the USA in the future (or take other “terroristic actions; cf. Leviticus 26:26).

North Korea, sadly, is certainly capable of terrorism. It has threatened the USA and its White House in past years (see North Korea threatens the White House), and has been increasing threats against the USA and the region as the USA has taken steps to try to pressure North Korea.

North Korean leaders should realize that Donald Trump’s actions in Syria and Afghanistan this year show that he is not against taking military action.

If North Korea does take certain steps to sufficiently aggravate the USA into a full military conflict, it needs to realize that it likely will no longer exist as it is. At some point in time, however, I believe that both Koreas will be reunited based upon certain verses in Revelation, yet whether this will be because of a war involving the USA or something else, that is not clear.

The Koreans are Asians and occupy the “land of the sunrise” (Revelation 16:2) and I believe that they are part of the kings of the east that the Book of Revelation discusses having a role in the end time (Revelation 9:16). For years I have written that I expect that they will reunify. The unification of North and South Korea is consistent with biblical prophecy. But North Korea may take unusual actions before then, and it may regret doing so.

Whether this reunification will be because of a war involving the USA, South Korea, or something else (such as waiting until Revelation 9:16; & 16:2), is not clear. But the situation in Korea will change.

As Jesus said, “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37)

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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