On Saturday, North Korea said that its missile tests are for self-defense against the U.S. military. It also said that the missile tests have not harmed neighboring countries.
Recently, North Korea launched six missiles in 12 days. One of the missiles flew over Japan last Tuesday.
KCNA, North Korean state-owned media, said that the missile tests are normal, planned self-defense actions. The tests help protect the country from U.S. military threats.
The state media also says that the missile tests are not dangerous for neighboring countries because they consider aviation safety before the tests.
The statement from North Korean media was a response to criticism from the International Civil Aviation Organization Council. The council said that the missile tests were a safety risk.
In a separate statement, North Korea’s ministry of defense said it was worried about military exercises that the U.S. and South Korea were doing.
On Friday, the US announced new sanctions on North Korea because of the missile launches.
VOCABULARY
- Missile – A flying weapon that explodes when it hits a target
- Self-defense – the use of force to protect yourself/your country against an attack
- Harm – injury, damage, or problems you create;
- Launch – to shoot; to fire; to push; to throw; to send something into space or the sky
- State owned – a company or property that is owned and controlled by the government
- Threat – a situation or activity that could cause harm; danger; hazard
- Consider – to think about carefully; to take ‘something’ into account when thinking or deciding;
- Aviation – related to flying airplanes; the flying or operating of aircraft
- Statement – a clear message; declaration; announcement
- Criticism – a negative comment or negative opinion about something;
- Council – a group of people who are chosen to make rules, laws, or decisions
- Safety risk – hazard; something that might cause injury or damage
- Ministry – a department of a government (education ministry, health ministry, etc.)
- Exercise – military activities to practice for a real war
- Announce – share information openly; to tell the public; to make a statement; to report
- Sanction – an economic penalty or punishment that one country does to another country
Original story from Reuters below:
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