North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened Tuesday to carry out a fresh round of nuclear and long-range rocket tests “in a short time,” claiming the country has secured missile reentry technology and uncovering an image of what it said is a warhead part. 

Seoul and Washington urged Pyongyang to cease provocative actions and rhetoric, and abide by its international obligations. 

“We will conduct an explosion experiment of a nuclear warhead and test-fire a ballistic rocket capable of carrying the warhead in a short time in order to boost the reliance of our nuclear strike capabilities,” Kim was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency, while overseeing a mock reentry test of a warhead tip. 

“We’ve made great progress in our ballistic rocket technologies by securing the atmospheric reentry technology in our own strength, which is only possessed by a few countries that consider themselves to be a military power.”

His remarks marked the latest in an ongoing string of nuclear threats the communist state has churned out against South Korea and the U.S. since the U.N. Security Council adopted a new resolution over its recent atomic and rocket experiments. 

With the allies carrying out their annual joint military drills on their largest-ever scale, the tone of North Korea’s state media appears to be growing more rigorous and substantive. It unveiled for the first time a photo of what it claimed was a miniaturized warhead. 

The KCNA reported last Friday that Kim had instructed his aides to ready additional rounds of atomic tests and continue diversifying the means to load nuclear warheads, while inspecting a short-range ballistic missile launch a day earlier. 

Kim’s mention of the timing, in particular, bolstered speculation that Pyongyang may push ahead with another major provocation ahead of the ruling Worker’s Party congress slated for May. 

President Park Geun-hye issued stringent criticism, calling the ongoing threats “provocative” and “reckless.” 

“North Korea could wind up walking the self-paved path of self-destruction if it continues to intensely confront the international community and does not change course,” she said during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.
The Foreign Ministry echoed her view, saying Kim’s remarks were “unacceptable” and warning of consequences should the regime commit an additional provocation.

The Defense Ministry here also dismissed the young ruler’s latest assertion as a “unilateral argument,” saying the North has yet to master the convoluted reentry technology, citing “various sources of intelligence available.” 

Washington, for its part, warned the regime against tension-escalating moves. 

“We urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric that aggravate tensions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments,” said State Department spokesperson Anna Richey-Allen. 

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that effective enforcement of sanctions on North Korea is one of the key tasks facing the country.

“We’re going to have to continue to ensure that Iran fully meets its commitments under the nuclear deal; to make sure that we’re enforcing effective sanctions on North Korea; that, at our upcoming summit here in Washington, we’re continuing to increase nuclear security,” Obama said during an address at a conference of chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions overseas 

As tensions flare, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se had a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi late Monday to review the newly passed UNSC resolution and the current security situation. 

“During the talks, Yun stressed the need to focus more on thoroughly implementing sanctions as North Korea directly defies the resolution and constantly makes threats of provocations,” spokesperson Cho June-hyuck said.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)