North Korea announce they could launch 'nuclear weapons at ANY TIME'

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FEARS: North Korea are said to be preparing to launch a long-range rocket

State officials made the statement on Tuesday morning as a warning to the West.

The director of the North Korean's Atomic Energy Institute told the official KCNA news agency that the country was fully ready to cope with U.S hostility with "nuclear weapons any time."

This week it emerged that the rogue nation has been working on the ability t

o mount a nuclear warhead on rockets, which would give tubby tyrant Kim Jong-un the ability to carry out catastrophic nuclear strikes.

North Korea's satellite launch could spark international outrage as it is a major violation of international sanctions.

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"The world will clearly see a series of satellites of Songun Korea soaring into the sky at the times and locations determined by the WPK Central Committee," the North's KCNA news agency said, with Songun referring to its "military first" policy.

"The NADA is pushing forward at a final phase the development of a new earth observation satellite," KCNA quoted the director of the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) as saying.

"Successful progress made in reconstructing and expanding satellite launching grounds for higher-level satellite lift-off has laid a firm foundation for dynamically pushing ahead with the nation's development of space science," the director added.

The launch is expected to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea on October 10.

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LEADER: Kim Jong-un has frequently threatened to launch atomic strikes against the world

North Korea is banned under UN Security Council resolutions from conducting tests that use ballistic missile technology, but it has defied international warnings and sanctions to pursue missile and nuclear programmes.

The North claims its rocket launches are part of a legitimate space programme aimed at putting satellites into orbit.

Satellite images previously showed North Korea had completed upgrades to its main satellite launch site near the west coast, fuelling speculation of a planned long-range rocket launch to celebrate the 70th anniversary.

But South Korea's defence minister said last week there were no indications of actual preparations for a missile launch.

North Korea, the most secretive country on the planet, has an arsenal of missiles of various ranges and is believed to be developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) aimed at delivering nuclear weapons, although it is considered years away from such deployment.

The North is also working to miniaturise a nuclear warhead to mount on a delivery vehicle.

In August 38 North, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said North Korea was refurbishing a major uranium mill in Pyongsan.

source dailystar