With escalating tensions between North Korea, Japan, the USA and South Korea in recent weeks and months, it's perhaps no surprise that the isolated communist regime has been carrying out further missile tests.
Just a fortnight since the country tested a powerful hydrogen bomb, it has been reported that North Korea has now fired a ballistic missile over Japan, having done the same last month.
The latest missile is said to have reached further than its predecessor, travelling a total of 3,700km and an altitude of 770km. This is the 15th time North Korea - founded in 1953 upon the cessation of conflict (which has never officially ended) in the Korean War - has tested major weapons in 2017.
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It has now been revealed that the Queen has a prepared speech ready in the (still unlikely) event that we find ourselves entering World War III, in a similar way her father did in the Second World War and King George V during the Great War.
Credit: PA
The speech was written in 1983, during a time in which the Cold War, a 'non-violent' conflict between the Western powers (e.g. the US, UK, France and Germany and the USSR, otherwise known as the Soviet Union). It was made public in 2013 under a law known as the 30-year rule.
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Bits of the text are now out of date (the Queen's son, Prince Andrew is no longer in military action, as he was during the Falklands War), yet much of it remains apt were the worst to happen.
It reads as follows: "I've never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father's [George VI's] inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939 [when Britain entered war with Germany in WW2]. Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me. But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all, the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.
"We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history. The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies about our cities and towns but he deadly power of abused technology. My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it. As we strive together to fight off the new evil, let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be. God Bless you all."
The speech was originally devised as part of a war games exercise (a common occurrence during the Cold War in anticipation of possible future conflict with the USSR) envisioning what would happen if war did happen.
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Credit: PA
The speech in full can be read below:
"When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas. Our thoughts were concentrated on the strong links that bind each generation to the ones that came before and those that will follow. The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.
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"Now this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.
"I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father's inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939. Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.
"We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history. The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies above our cities and towns but the deadly power of abused technology.
"But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength. My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country. My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.
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"It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown. If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country's will to survive cannot be broken.
"My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it.
"As we strive together to fight off the new evil let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be.
"God bless you all."
Words by Ronan O'Shea
Topics: Queen