It warned that the North Korean army was fully armed with “all means for military counter-action” to strike back at any enemy attack in “a single blow”.
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China is in a bind over what to do about North Korea’s stepped-up nuclear and missile tests, even though it is annoyed with its ally and has started talks with other UN Security Council members on a new sanctions resolution against Pyongyang.
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea claims the deployment of two USA supersonic bombers over the peninsula was a bluff, warning that such actions were escalating tensions “to the point of explosion”.
It comes as North Korea carried out its fifth and most powerful nuclear test just last week, despite warnings from United Nations forces against such hostile actions.
Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of U.S. Forces Korea and the combined forces, called the test an “unacceptable threat” and said the bombers were just one example of the “deep arsenal” available to defend the peninsula. The Japanese source said Park described North Korea’s nuclear test as a “serious provocation” and “outrageous” violation of global norms. He went on to note that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was “irresponsible” and “erratic”, further destabilizing the region with his military maneuverings.
“They discussed the important work now taking place in the Security Council to further sanction North Korea and considered other possible measures of their own, in particular ways to further restrict revenue sources for the DPRK’s missile and nuclear programs, including through illicit activities”, the ministers’ statement said.
Yet few “expert” analyses suggest that China will risk destabilizing North Korea or that further United Nations resolutions and worldwide sanctions will succeed in deterring North Korea from pursuing its nuclear weapons and missile programs.
South Korea asked Indonesia to help the country persuade North Korea to stop its nuclear programme.
A satirical sketch comedy show on North Korean government-run TV lampooned U.S. President Obama in a weird attempt to boast about the county’s nuclear tests. The red lights may be flashing in Washington, Tokyo and Seoul, but there’s no sign yet that North Korea’s impulsive leader is getting the message.
The sabre-rattling and hardline talk of a possible World War 3 has intensified between North Korea and South Korea in recent days as the United States, in a show of solidarity with Japan and South Korea, presented a show of force this week by sending two B-1B strategic nuclear bombers to the southern part of the Korean peninsula.
The propaganda exercise was organized by North Korean defector-turned-activist Park Sang Hak.
The Obama administration has been nudging allies Japan and South Korea to set aside historical differences and cooperate more closely in diplomacy and security as the threat posed by North Korea intensifies.
It is believed North Korea still receives petroleum through a pipeline connecting it with China.
That project, believed to have been expanded significantly, is likely the source of up to 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of highly enriched uranium a year, said Siegfried Hecker, a leading expert on the North’s nuclear program.
Estimates say North Korea has enough material to produce 20 nuclear bombs in total by the end of 2016.
Floods in North Korea that have left hundreds dead or missing are the “worst disaster” to hit the country since World War II, state media said.
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“While we saw this work in Iran, over time countries can adjust to sanctions”, he said.
