North Korea says US air strikes on Syria vindicates decision to develop nuclear weapons

PHOTO: Kim Jong-un and Bashar al-Assad have reportedly exchanged pledges of friendship and cooperation. (Reuters/KCNA, file photo)

North Korea has said US missile strikes against a Syrian airfield were "an unforgivable act of aggression" that showed its decision to develop nuclear weapons was "the right choice a million times over".

Key points: 新闻导读

· North  Korea says US strikes vindicates decision to strengthen its military power

·Kim Jong-un has exchanged pledges of friendship and cooperation with Bashar al-Assad

·Mr Trump earlier spoke of an "outstanding" relationship with North  Korea's ally China

The response by North Korea's foreign ministry, carried by the official KCNA news agency, was the first since US warships launched dozens of missiles at a Syrian air base which the Pentagon says was involved in a chemical weapons attack earlier in the week.

"The US missile attack against Syriais a clear and unforgivable act of aggression against a sovereign state and we strongly condemn this," KCNA quoted an unnamed spokesman for the North Korean foreign ministry as saying.

Diplomatically-isolated North Korea considers Syriaa key ally.

KCNA said its leader, Kim Jong-un, and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad exchanged messages of warm wishes, and pledges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

PHOTO: Syrian government TV shows the burned and damaged hangar and warplanes at the Shayrat airbase.(AP: Syrian Government TV)

The US strikes came as President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida to press the leader of North Korea's sole diplomatic ally to do more to curb Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

Vocabularies（今日单词）:

Pentagon：五角大楼

Condemn：vt. 谴责；判刑，定罪；声讨

Diplomatically：adv. 在外交上；靠外交途径；圆滑地

Pledge：n. 保证；抵押；抵押品 vt. 许诺；用……抵押

Sinister：adj. 阴险的；凶兆的；灾难性的；左边的

Curb：n. 抑制；路边；勒马绳 vt. 控制；勒住

Ambition：n. 野心；雄心；抱负；理想