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| North Korean leader urges nuclear readiness | North Korean leader urges nuclear readiness |
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country's nuclear weapons should be ready for use "at any time", state media report. | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country's nuclear weapons should be ready for use "at any time", state media report. |
| He told military leaders the country would revise its military posture to be ready to launch pre-emptive strikes, the Korean Central News Agency said. | He told military leaders the country would revise its military posture to be ready to launch pre-emptive strikes, the Korean Central News Agency said. |
| It came after the UN imposed tough new sanctions on North Korea over a recent nuclear test and missile launch. | |
| North Korea also reportedly fired six short-range projectiles on Thursday. | North Korea also reportedly fired six short-range projectiles on Thursday. |
| A South Korean spokesman told Yonhap news agency the projectiles were fired into the sea at about 10:00 local time (01:00 GMT) from Wonsan on the east coast. | |
| "We must always be ready to fire our nuclear warheads at any time," Mr Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA on Friday. | "We must always be ready to fire our nuclear warheads at any time," Mr Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA on Friday. |
| Speaking at a military exercise, he said enemies were threatening North Korea's survival. | Speaking at a military exercise, he said enemies were threatening North Korea's survival. |
| "At an extreme time when the Americans... are urging war and disaster on other countries and people, the only way to defend our sovereignty and right to live is to bolster our nuclear capability," Mr Kim was reported as saying. | |
| On Wednesday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose some of its strongest ever sanctions against North Korea. | |
| All cargo going to and from the country must now be inspected, while 16 new individuals and 12 organisations have been blacklisted. | |
| The new measures are in reaction to North Korea's recent fourth nuclear test and satellite launch, both of which violated existing sanctions. | |
| North Korea often makes bellicose threats in times of heightened political tension in the region. | North Korea often makes bellicose threats in times of heightened political tension in the region. |
| Pyongyang has claimed to be able to make nuclear warheads small enough to fit on to a missile, although US officials have cast doubt on this. | Pyongyang has claimed to be able to make nuclear warheads small enough to fit on to a missile, although US officials have cast doubt on this. |
| Its nuclear programme has long been a cause for alarm in the region. | Its nuclear programme has long been a cause for alarm in the region. |