N. Korea Threatens To "Wipe Out" U.S.

(AP)  North Korea accused Washington of seeking to "provoke a second Korean War" as the regime prepared to hold maritime military exercises off the eastern coast.

U.S. and regional authorities were watching closely for signs that North Korea might fire short- or mid-range missiles during the June 25 to July 10 timeframe cited in a no-sail ban for military drills sent to Japan's Coast Guard.

North Korea had warned previously it would fire a long-range missile as a response to U.N. Security Council condemnation of an April rocket launch seen as a cover for its ballistic missile technology.

An underground nuclear test last month drew more Security Council action: a resolution seeking to clamp down on North Korea's trading of banned arms and weapons-related material by requiring U.N. member states to request inspections of ships carrying suspected cargo.

In a first test of the new resolution, a North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons was sailing off China's coast with a U.S. destroyer close behind.

The Kang Nam, which left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago, is believed bound for Myanmar, South Korean and U.S. officials said.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was unable to discuss intelligence on the vessel, said Wednesday that the ship had already cleared the Taiwan Strait.

He said he didn't know how much range the Kang Nam has — that is, whether or when it may need to stop in some port to refuel — but that the Kang Nam has in the past stopped in Hong Kong's port.

North Korea has said it would consider interception a declaration of war, and on Wednesday accused the U.S. of seeking to start another Korean War.

"If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will ... wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all," a dispatch from the official Korean Central News Agency said.

The warning came on the eve of the 59th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. The brutal fighting ended after three years in a truce in 1953, not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula divided and in a state of war. The U.S. has 28,500 troops in South Korea to protect against an outbreak of hostilities.

On Wednesday, the top U.S. commander in South Korea, Gen. Walter Sharp, praised soldiers from U.S.-led U.N. forces who died fighting the "tyranny" of communist North Korea decades ago.

"A North Korean victory in the Korean War would have brought the nightmare of tyranny to this great land, thrusting the citizens of the Republic of Korea into a darkness that their northern counterparts have yet to emerge from," he said a commemoration ceremony Wednesday, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

Reports about possible missile launches from the North highlighted the state of tension on the Korean peninsula.

A senior South Korean government official said the no-sail ban is believed connected to North Korean plans to fire short- or mid-range missiles. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Yonhap reported that the North may fire a Scud missile with a range of up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) or a short-range ground-to-ship missile with a range of 100 miles (160 kilometers) during the no-sail period.

U.S. defense and counterproliferation officials in Washington said they also expected the North to launch short- to medium-range missiles. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

South Korea will expedite the introduction of high-tech unmanned aerial surveillance systems and "bunker-buster" bombs in response to North Korea's provocations, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said, citing lawmakers.

Meanwhile, a flurry of diplomatic efforts were under way to try getting North Korea to return to disarmament talks.

Russia's top nuclear envoy, Alexei Borodavkin, said after meeting with his South Korean counterpart that Moscow is open to other formats for discussion since Pyongyang has pulled out of formal six-nation negotiations.

In Beijing, top U.S. and Chinese defense officials also discussed North Korea. U.S. Defense Undersecretary Michele Flournoy was heading next to Tokyo and Seoul for talks.

South Korea has proposed high-level "consultations" to discuss North Korea with the U.S., Russia, China and Japan.



N. Korea Threatens U.S

[mrjustice1]

NORTH KOREAN THREAT(S) FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN MOST THINK

It is estimated that between two to five million Americans would be killed instantly, and tens of millions would suffer the torment of slow, painful death from radioactive fallout, if a N Korean nuclear device lands even near a large US metro area!

Considering the Kim Jong paranoid-madman factor and the nuclear devices within his possession, pre-empting to take out N Korea's nuclear and military capabilities makes a great deal of sense.

Order a military blitz against N Korea to render that extremely dangerous and deviant leader and nation harmless to America, and harmless to the rest of the world's people and nations!

[Turbidite]

Calm yourselves people. The Prez has a secret weapon called BO. Turn him loose at the NK border and he'll snuff the weasel.

[Benton09]

Wait till Kim Jong (Mentally) Ill puts his son, 26 year old Kim Jong UN in charge..Ching wong ung li woo, ding dung me wont a Kia too!

[aaabee1]

"But given the toothless response to the call for responsible government by Iranians -- where we have clear interests in having stability and responsible government -- I don't expect much from the Administration here."

You forget one small detail: Aghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China, Russia. Islam, Muslim, Communism, dictatorships. We aren't the police of the world, because we don't have the troops. Period.

According to you, what our government needs to do is to meet the rising NK hostilities with harsh repudiation. You believe that will deescalate the situation? What do we do after that, start another conflict in yet another country? And beyond that, in putting down NK in the global arena, there are those who may not back NK, but do back their rights to their own country's sovereignty.

I have always felt that my country had the clearest head on the planet. If we don't take the initiative to calmly convince leadership of all nations to return to peaceful diplomatic forums in which to air and settle their fears and grievances, who on this planet will?

[lileoj]

Guess Lil-Kim thinks he's Achieles from Troy and can just roll up on the giant dude and stab him once and dead. In reality he's the impotent bug whos leaping all over the 300 lb linebacker and the bug thinks he's gonna beat him into the ground =P All of a sudden. Squish!!!!!

[ponygal]

I think that North Korean used too much perm solution, he's just crazy. You don't have to distroy North Korea, just get him and his cabinet. North Korea's people are so poor and brain washed, it's sad. Mean while, South Korea is buzzing with modern conviences like power and water available 24/7.

[CLoverNYC1]

Kim Jung Il has to justify the development of nuclear weapons while his people die of malnutrition and starvation.

His tactic is to keep his people terrified with continuous reports of impending attacks by the big bad USA, and how he alone will protect and defend them.

The alleged 'tests' were for the benefit of his bidders.

Meanwhile, he's selling his nukes to the highest roller in the mideast, nations that are hostile toward Israel and the US. Kim Jung Il knows an attack on the US would be suicide. He's all about money, nothing more.

If President Obama is wise, he'll engage the assistance of other nations to create an embargo - delay the Kang Nam indefinitely.

[barbaram99]

The first one never ended. My late father told me that and he served in the Amry during the Korean War. There is no 2rd Korean War. We never ended the firdt one..That is the truth,

[timothyjo]

The guy who said the leader of n. korea ill cant wipe his butt is right .. the people on here who critize obama are just plan stupid !! we will destory n.korea in a half sec. I have seen the weapons we have aimed in there direction i have been on guan, s. pacific area we r well covered but these people who like to threaten countries are wrong and plan big mouth rep. for most part a strong man or country does just run mouth about how bad they r. so reps. SHUT YOUR PIE HOLES !!!!

[dartplayer501]

I know S. Korea is still theoretically at war with the North, but we signed the armistace also, does that mean we are too or was the Korean War a non-declared "police action?"