North Korea Will Launch Rockets 'At Any Time' Kim Jong Un Pleases, Officials Say

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un will launch an intercontinental ballistic missile "at any time and at any place" he pleased, an ambassador for the country said Tuesday. The reclusive regime would continue its ballistic missile tests in direct defiance of sanctions placed by the United Nations, foreshadowing Wednesday morning’s failed launch of a missile off the country’s eastern coast, which reportedly exploded within seconds.

Choe Myong Nam, deputy ambassador at the North Korean mission to the United Nations in Geneva, said the north wasn’t concerned of further U.S.-backed sanctions reportedly being developed to limit its nuclear operations and missile tests, in an exclusive Reuters interview published Wednesday.

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"I think this is stemming from the visit by the Secretary of State (Rex Tillerson) to Japan, South Korea and China," the ambassador said of the rumored upcoming sanctions following Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s first mission to Asia. "We of course are not afraid of any act like that."

Tensions between the United States and its allies with Kim Jong Un's regime have been brewing more than usual since President Donald Trump took office in January. The North launched over five missiles in the weeks following his inauguration, including one during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit with Trump in Florida, which landed in the Sea of Japan.

The North Korean ambassador said current sanctions were "heinous and inhumane," while trilateral military exercises between the U.S., South Korea and Japan were forcing the regime to build a "pre-emptive first strike capability." The north would also reportedly continue building an inter-continental ballistic missile system capable of striking U.S. and South Korean targets.

"In the light of such huge military forces involved in the joint military exercises, we have no other choice but to continue with our full acceleration of the nuclear programs and missile programs. It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the United States and South Korea," Choe Myong Nam said. "I can tell you for sure that the inter-continental ballistic rockets of the DPRK will be launched at any time and at any place as decided by our Supreme Leadership."