North Korea warned of 'unparalleled' response from US, Japan, South Korea if it launches a 7th nuclear test

On Wednesday, the United States, Japan, and South Korea warned North Korea that if it conducted a seventh nuclear test this year, there would be a "unparalleled" response. The warning comes not only in the wake of Pyongyang's earlier this month unannounced missile tests, which included a ballistic missile launch over Japan, but also amid concerns from the United States and its Asian allies that Pyongyang may be preparing to test a nuclear weapon for the first time since 2017, according to Reuters. First Vice Foreign Minister of South Korea Cho Hyun-dong allegedly said, "We agreed that an unprecedented scale of response would be necessary if North Korea presses forward with a seventh nuclear test," at a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.

 On March 24, North Korea conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-17. On March 24, North Korea conducted a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-17. (Korea News Service/Korean Central News Agency via AP) AFTER NORTH KOREA MISSILE LAUNCHES, A US CARRIER POWERED BY NUCLEAR JOINS SOUTH KOREA WARSHIPS FOR DRILLS The vice foreign minister of Japan, Takeo Mori, and the deputy secretary of state of the United States, Wendy Sherman, were both present when Cho made his remarks.

 The government representatives made no specific mention of the steps they would take to confront North Korea in the event that it conducted another nuclear test. However, given that China and Russia's veto earlier this year prevented new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang for the first time since 2006, Washington and its allies' responses are probably constrained. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, is pictured Wednesday, April 27, 2022, taking part in a photo session with commanders and troops who attended a celebration of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army's 90th founding anniversary. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, participates in a picture shoot with the officers and troops who attended a celebration of the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean War.