DPRK leader Kim Jong Un briefed on Guam missile strike plans

CGTN photo

Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Monday praised his army's plans to fire missiles toward the US territory of Guam in the Pacific but said he would hold off on the launch, reported DPRK's official Media on Tuesday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim inspected the Command of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Monday and examined the the force's preparations for "enveloping fire at Guam" for a long time.

The DPRK's top leader also said the US must stop provocations and making unilateral demands against DPRK immediately to defuse the tension.

"He said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of the DPRK, the latter will make an important decision as it already declared," the report said.

Kim was referring to the announcement on August 10 by DPRK to warn the US of a preemptive strike over Japan and into waters off Guam through four intermediate range ballistic missiles in response to the US President Donald Trump's threaten on August 8 to hit the DPRK with "fire and fury".

Republic of Korea (ROK) and the US officials have since sought to play down the risks of an imminent conflict, helping soothe global concerns somewhat on Monday.

Moon Jae-In, ROK's leader waded in on Monday, calling for calm in the standoff with DPRK, saying there should never be another war on the Korean Peninsula.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis also warned on Monday that an attack against the US could quickly escalate into war, as he and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson moved to dial down tensions.

The visit to the Strategic Force of the KPA marks Kim's first public appearance in about two weeks.

The DRPK's leader ordered the army should always be ready to fire should he make a decision for action, the report said.