North Korea threatens missile attacks on US, South Korea

[M.harris]

North Korea on Friday issued a new threat to attack the United States, reacting to a show of force by two US B-2 stealth bombers that dropped dummy bombs onto a South Korean training ground.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered strategic missiles to be prepared “so that they may strike any time the US mainland, its military bases in the operational theatres in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea,” state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English—language statement.

The US bombers participated in a “long-duration, round-trip training mission” of more than 20,000 kilometre from their US base to South Korea Thursday, the US military in Seoul said.

The nuclear-capable bombers dropped “inert munitions” on a training ground close to the North Korean border, to demonstrate the US commitment and capability “to provide extended deterrence to our allies in the Asia-Pacific region,” including South Korea, it said.

KCNA quoted Mr. Kim as saying the hostile actions from the US were now “going beyond the phase of threat and blackmail.” Mr. Kim “judged the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists in view of the prevailing situation,” it said.

Relations with Pyongyang have deteriorated since North Korea’s third nuclear test in February and the strengthening of international sanctions against it.
North Korea threatens missile attacks on US, South Korea - The Hindu