N. Korea threatens ‘substantial measure’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, second from left, speaks to officials at a meeting in this undated photo. North Korea said Sunday that it’s ready to take “substantial and high-profile important state measures” in response to the latest UNSC resolution. <Photo: Xinhua/Newsis>

North Korea said Sunday that its ready to take substantial and important measures, in an apparent response to the latest U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution adopted last week.

The Norths Central News Agency said Kim expressed the firm resolution to take substantial and high-profile important state measures in view of the prevailing situation to defend the dignity of the regime.

The action to be taken is widely believed to be another nuclear test.

Sundays statement followed an editorial piece that appeared on the regimes party news paper stating a nuclear test is what the people want, we cant help but respond to them.

So far, the regime has conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and in 2009.

UNSC Resolution 2087 was a response to the regimes rocket launch last month. The North claimed it was part of a peaceful space program but its neighbors saw it as a ploy to test long-range missile technology.

This (U.N. action) has thrown a grave obstacle to the efforts to be focused by the DPRK on economic construction so that the people may not tighten their belts any longer on the basis of the war deterrence for self defense, said the news agency.

This fact proved once again that the DPRK should defend its sovereignty by itself. It also became clear that there can be no denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula before the world has been denuclearized.

Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor of North Korean studies at Korea University in Seoul, said another nuclear test is only a matter of time.

For the new leader, who hasnt improved the economic situation in the country, the pressure from the international community is good to blame.

And hell carry out the nuclear test to maintain public support for the regime. Yoo told The Korea Times.

Satellite images released by the U.S. over the weekend showed signs of the regime preparing for the test. Seoul also warned the underground test site in Punghye-ri in the northeastern part of the country looks to be preparing for a nuclear test.

Yoo urged the incoming government to send a clear message to the North against such a move.

Park (Geun-hye) should send a clear message that South Korea stands by the international community and that it wont be engaged in dialogue as long as the North proceeds with its nuclear option. If not, shell lose her grip on inter-Korean relations for the next five years. <The Korea Times/Kim Se-jeong>