Perhaps mindful of parallels that could be drawn over defiance of global norms, North Korea denounced the us missile strike on Syria as "intolerable", and reiterated its own right to self-defense.
North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware.
"Swaggering as a superpower, the United States has been picking only on countries without nuclear weapons and the Trump administration is no exception", the foreign ministry spokesman said, according to KCNA.
Diplomatically isolated North Korea considers Syria a key ally.
Ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of North Korea's biggest backer, China, Trump took a hard line on North Korea, saying "China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won't", adding that "if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will". His remarks echoed Trump's declaration that he is ready to take on North Korea alone if China, its main enabler, does not cooperate.
However, Keane's statements to The Times indicate that he's lost faith in diplomacy as a tool: "Our last three presidents spanning over 20 years have failed to stop the North Korean nuclear program", he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said the U.S. military strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons was a warning to other countries including North Korea that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger.
Carrier groups heads to Sea of Japan amid N. Korea tensions
The US Pacific Command announced the cancelation of the USS Carl Vinson's port visit to Australia to redeploy near South Korea. North Korea has fired off several test missiles in recent months and is reportedly planning another nuclear test.
Wu's trip was the first visit to South Korea by a senior Chinese official since the planned deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system led to a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul. President Xi Jinping also offered to buy more American grain and agricultural products.
That test came a month after Pyongyang simultaneously launched four medium-range missiles into the ocean in what it said was proof it could hit US military bases in Japan.
A senior Japanese military source added: "If the US military was to attack, there could be a request to Japan for rear-guard logistics support but there has been no talk of such preparations".
"It probably is not realistic for the U.S.to attack North Korea", a Japanese defence ministry source said. The North calls the drills preparations for war against it.
Kim's government has conducted five underground nuclear tests, two of them in 2016, and is working to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles that ultimately could deliver a warhead to US territory.
The condemnation of the airstrike in Syria and threats to test more missiles is yet another move by Kim Jong Un to defy resolutions passed by the United Nations and related measures created to thwart the ability of North Korea to develop nuclear weapons.
North Korea is believed to be developing missiles capable of hitting the United States and a nuclear arsenal in defiance of U.N. sanctions.
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