North Korea boasts having "powerful modern weapons" capable of striking United States
A North Korean soldier looks at the southern side through binoculars April 25, 2012, at the border village of Panmunjom that has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War. / AP Photo
Updated at 4:14 a.m. ET
(AP) PYONGYANG, North Korea - North Korea is armed with "powerful modern weapons" capable of defeating the United States, a top military chief in Pyongyang said Wednesday amid increased speculation abroad about the nation's missile arsenal and nuclear ambitions.
Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho emphasized the importance of strengthening the military to defend North Korea against threats it sees from the United States and South Korea. He called his nation a nuclear and military power and praised new leader Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his late 20s, as a "military strategist" who has been giving the army guidance for years.
"The Korean People's Army is armed with powerful modern weapons ... that can defeat the (U.S.) imperialists at a single blow," he told party and military officials, using familiar descriptions of the country's rivals.
Previously, the Associated Press reported that Ri said the country was armed with "mobile" weapons, but the AP later reported that "modern" was the correct translation.
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The meeting, attended by Kim Jong Un, was held to mark the 80th anniversary of the army's founding. The Associated Press was among foreign news agencies based in Pyongyang allowed to observe the closed meeting at the April 25 House of Culture.
Ri, who is chief of the army's General Staff, did not provide further details about North Korea's weapons, but his call to arms comes as the United States, Britain and others warn the nation against a provocation that would further heighten tensions. The Korean peninsula officially remains at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
North Korea is believed to have some nuclear weapons but not the technology to put them on long-range missiles.
Earlier this month, North Korea launched a long-range rocket in what its officials called a failed attempt to put a satellite into space. The launch was decried internationally as a banned test of missile technology that also could be used to send an intercontinental ballistic missile topped with a nuclear warhead.
The rocket broke into pieces shortly after liftoff. But the U.N. Security Council later condemned the launch as a violation of resolutions prohibiting North Korea from engaging in nuclear and missile activity, and Washington halted a plan to provide Pyongyang with much-needed food aid in exchange for a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests.
On Monday, North Korea responded to U.S. and South Korean criticism with threats to reduce South Korean targets "to ashes" within minutes in a particularly sharp warning that followed days of protest rallies held nationwide.
There also are worries that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test, as it did after rocket launches in 2006 and 2009. South Korean intelligence officials say recent satellite images show the North has been digging a new tunnel in what could be preparation for a third atomic test.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned North Korea not to engage in any further provocation.
He told reporters in Brazil that he had no knowledge of any specific actions being planned by North Korea but said he would "strongly urge" the North to avoid any destabilizing acts.
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Furthermore, NK as a country does not exist. Only renegades in the north were illegally supplied by Russia and Chinese against finishing WW2.
Since then, we've had a war there, which was left unfinished as well. My father served there, and many Americans gave their lives for Korea.
To add, I feel it's Russia's responsibility to right this wrong they created.
For those of you wondering why the invasion of Iraq was necessary, here it is. Without taking out Iraq, this is what we would get to look forward to in 10 years. We should have taken out N. Korea when we had the chance. Under Chinese protection, these war-mongers will be threatening the U.S. for many years to come. No one on the west coast is going to be able to live comfortably once they develop long range rockets and smaller nuclear payloads, which they are working on.
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Ohhhh a proactive Bush Doctrine proponent. Feels good about getting lied to by the government in order to get us in a war.
Probably chomping at the bit to go after Iran too. A couple trillion dollars later. Its just money to burn(or blow up and shoot off)
("The Korean People's Army is armed with powerful modern weapons ... that can defeat the (U.S.) imperialists at a single blow," he told party and military officials, using familiar descriptions of the country's rivals.")
N.Korea with land area of "46,540 Sq Miles" is going to destroy the third largest country in the world which has over 9000 nukes and the most powerful Military in the world??????
"They are smoking some strong stuff over there"...
What? Are you going to pollute the atmosophere of U.S. in a single blow by blowing up your missles right after launch? (seems a little wasteful to me). The U.S. is fine with you making self destructing missles. It saves money on their A.B.M. budget.
Unless they believe in the "scorched earth" philosophy, their rants will get them nowhere. And even if they did believe it, they would still try to hide deep enough underground... they'd only end up buried alive...
And that's why current and future wars will be economics-based...