N-Korea threatens nuclear strike amid US-South Korea drill

[cronus]

http://www.wlwt.com/politics/north-kore ... l/41316878

North Korea threatens nuclear strike amid US-South Korea drill

WASHINGTON (CNN) —The U.S. and South Korean militaries started a massive joint annual exercise Monday, a drill that has drawn North Korean threats of nuclear retaliation.

North Korea will "turn the stronghold of provocation into a heap of ashes through Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike" if the U.S. and South Korea "show the slightest sign of aggression" during the drill, a spokesman for North Korea's military was quoted as saying by the country's state media.

North Korean forces are "ready to mount a pre-emptive retaliatory strike at all enemy attack groups involved in Ulchi Freedom Guardian," he said, referring to the exercise by its official name.

The exercise takes place almost exactly one year after North Korean troops shelled South Korean territory and only days after South Korea welcomed the highest-ranking North Korean official defector in decades.

That defection, of Pyongyang's deputy ambassador to the UK, caused North Korea to issue a statement calling the diplomat a criminal, with South Korean officials expressing concerns that North Korea might dispatch assassination squads to eliminate potential defectors abroad.

The annual drill will include 25,000 US troops, the bulk of which are already stationed in Korea, according to a statement by U.S. Forces Korea. The purpose of the exercise is to "enhance Alliance readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula," the statement said.

(continued)

[Rum]

One of these days your dreams, as you gasp your last, will come true. Here's hoping it is soon! (Cos clearly you have a need to be dead).

[cronus]

One of these days your dreams, as you gasp your last, will come true. Here's hoping it is soon! (Cos clearly you have a need to be dead).

Cheerful as usual.

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37171608

North Korea submarine fires ballistic missile

North Korea has fired a submarine-based ballistic missile, drawing condemnation from the US.

The KN-11 missile was launched off the coast of Sinpo and flew about 500km (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan, a US official said.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missile had fallen inside Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone.
North Korea, believed to be developing nuclear weapons, is banned by the UN from any use of ballistic missiles.
The reported test follows an attempted launch last month that South Korea said failed in its initial flight stage.

(continuing....maybe not?)