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Subscribe to RSSNorth Korea's military has threatened to reduce South Korea’s conservative government "to ashes" in "three or four minutes" – an escalation of its recent belligerent language.
It vowed Monday to launch unspecified "special actions" of "unprecedented peculiar means," an unusually specific warning.
North Korea regularly criticizes Seoul and just last week renewed its promise to wage a "sacred war," saying South Korean President Lee Myung-bak had insulted the North's April 15 celebrations of the birth centennial of national founder Kim Il Sung.
Kim Jong Il's 'last will' to son: Make peace, build more weapons
Its latest threat follows U.N. condemnation of North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket that exploded shortly after liftoff April 13. Washington, Seoul and others called the launch a cover for testing long-range missile technology. Pyongyang said the launch was meant to put a satellite into orbit.
Despite launch failure, North Korea celebrates military-style
The North's special actions "will reduce all the rat-like groups and the bases for provocations to ashes in three or four minutes, (or) in much shorter time, by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style," according to the statement by the special operation action group of the Korean People's Army's Supreme Command.
Elizabeth Dalziel / AP
From work to play, see pictures from inside the secretive country.
Terrorist attacks?
Some South Korean analysts speculated the North's statement was meant to unnerve Seoul; others that the North could be planning terrorist attacks.
It seemed unlikely that North Korea would launch a large-scale military attack against Seoul, which is backed by nearly 30,000 U.S. troops stationed in the South, said Kim Young-soo, a professor at Sogang University in Seoul.
However, Dr. Cheon Seong-whun, of the Korean Institute for National Unification, told NBC News that he "wouldn’t be surprised if the North takes some military actions against the South soon given the concrete words announced by the North today.”
“I believe the North’s statements have passed the rhetoric stage,” he added.
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Pyongyang refuses to let failed rocket launch dampen tone of festivities.
The North's latest threat, which was carried by its state media, comes amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, with both Koreas recently unveiling new missiles.
The animosity has prompted worries that North Korea may conduct a new nuclear test — something it did after rocket launches in 2006 and 2009. South Korean intelligence officials have said that recent satellite images show North Korea has been digging a new tunnel in what appears to be preparation for a third nuclear test.
We may never know why North Korea rocket failed
South Korea's Unification Ministry said it was examining North Korea's intentions behind the statement; the Defense Ministry said no special military movement had been observed in the North. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing office rules.
Relations between the Koreas have been abysmal since Lee took office in 2008 with a hard-line policy that ended unconditional aid shipments to the North.
In Beijing, North Korea's biggest ally, China's top foreign policy official met Sunday with a North Korean delegation and expressed confidence in the country's new young leader, Kim Jong Un.
NBC News' Julie Yoo, msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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As someone else already posted, N.Korea is "sabre rattling" to regain the food aid that was cut off by the south. Now after the botched missile test, America and other nations have cut aid also. Pyongyang's military leadership has painted the country in a corner. They "made their bed, let them lie in it." As far as I'm concerned, China can feed them. They can afford it. The last thing they want to do is initiate full scale military aggression against S.Korea. China has too much money tied up in America and the west to let the north upset the "status quo." Without China to hide behind, the S.Korean military would wipe the floor with the north. Though the north's standing army is larger, it is antiquated. The majority of it's tanks and equipment are 1950's vintage. S.Korea's military though smaller, is more modern and better equipped. The military and diplomatic tension between Seoul and Pyongyang cannot continue without a major escalation. The communist regime in the north like the old Soviet Union will eventually collapse under it's own military weight.
"Without China to hide behind, the S. Korean military would wipe the floor with the north"... well, technically maybe that is feasible, but until the South Koreans grow a pair that is never going to happen. South Korea has done nothing but placate and kow-tow to the North for the past ~60 years. After their destroyer was torpedoed last year and their islands were shelled more recently, the South has basically just gone farther to assuage and soothe the North, out of fear. It's an ingrained culture there of pacifying the (perceived) stronger aggressor, and thereby saving face. Until that cultural mentality ceases, the only thing that will happen when more of their ships are torpedoed. will be more South Koreans singing kumbaya and holding hands, sending balloons over the border tied with packages of shoes and food aid.
I agree that S.Korea placated the north for 50 years. But the sinking of the Destroyer and the shelling of the fishing village was "the last straw." I don't think Seoul will take any more military aggression from the north. The military and political tone regarding N.Korea in the south is decidedly more hawkish in the last few years. I think that Washington has had a lot to do with S.Korea's restraint thus far. I was stationed in S.Korea and trained with ROK soldiers near Panmujan. The one thing the S.Koreans aren't is scared (at least not their military.) The next agressive military move made by Pyongyang could lead to all out war on the 38th parallel. The only questions are What will be the US and China's role in such a conflict, and how will it affect trade diplomatic and military relations between us?
Dr.Cheoh Seong-whun from the Korean Institute of National Unification (a sure threat to North Korea's authorities) is more correct in assessing the threat posed by the North Korean military authorities in starting a mini-Blitzkrieg. North Korea is armed to the teeth to start with- their satellite debacle that cost them $850 mill. US dollars (644.4 million Euro), that could have bought foodstuff of 2,5 tons for the starving populace- what a fireworks display. Population in North Korea is living in a concentration camp- they are programmed since birth to not veer off the dicta of the g'ment. North Korea is a powderkeg ready to ignite with unintended consequences- and when the cat is away-the mice are dancing on the table (Obama adm.) I'd like everyone to take a look of the photo in Berliner Morgenpost and the salute- right fist clenched - extended salute (the very same salute that Norway's Breivik uses by the way). US/Obama adm. telling China to rein in North Korea- placing the onus on China and accusing China for the satelllite platform- when Iranian Guard present for the lift-off- is more than questionable. Go to http://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article 106214272/Nordkorea-droht-Sueden-mit-blitzsachiger-Vernichtung.html
"It vowed Monday to launch unspecified "special actions" of "unprecedented peculiar means," an unusually specific warning"
Clear to me.
Translation of North Korea's threats: "Boogadaboogada! Hoogadamoogada! And this time we mean it!"
One thing is certain. Hussein and Hillary will respond with Useless, Empty Rhetoric and it will be totally IGNORED by Everyone.
If you go back in history to the 50's you will find similar rhetoric from both North Korea and China regarding the US and it's allies. These threats are not to be taken lightly. Vigilance and a show of strength on our part is necessary to prevent war. Weakness by our president could result in the thing no one really wants.
I have no idea how serious the north is with their threats, nor do I have any suggestions of how to diffuse the situation. I do know that the north suffers from food shortages and lack of money to buy food. For this , I have a solution. The north korean president could get haircuts on a regular basis, sell his ample hair to a newly formed wig export business. Money to start the business could be made available by selling some of the medals, buttons and braid used for decorating the North Korean military and political figures.
North Kores better watch out or we'll release our most damning weapon..... Hillary Clinton backed by Barrack Obama
Time to start taking real, graduated actions against NK. They sank a South Korean ship, should have two of their vessels sink. They fired artillery against South Korean civilians, need to have shells land in one of their port cities. They need to understand that agression will be deat with in kind, with compound interest.
Agreed, but actually it's time for South Korea to step up to the plate after 60 years of kowtowing, appeasing, placating, cajoling, and rewarding the chubby-cheeked, bad-haired Kim family. The graduated actions you speak of have to come from South Korea. Until they finally stop bending over for North Korea, they can expect no relief from being harangued, torpedoed, and shelled by North Korea.
Why should America have any say in this? South Korea is their neighbor. If all out hostility breaks out they are the ones getting shelled immediately. They have the largest stake in this game, and we should follow their lead as such.
China needs to slap North Korea on the wrist!
Surely North Korea knows that anything they do to cause problems in South Korea would need to be approved by China. And, if China gives the "OK", China knows that it will cause them problems with the USA!
How can China embarrass itself by backing this twerp? North Korea could attack the South, but it would be suicide. Maybe that's what they want - to be put out of their misery as they take many down with them.
Having done a tour in Korea and knowing a lot about the situation, I can tell you that there is an estimated 100,000 "sleepers" in the south. I have always doubted that figure and won't play the "numbers" game here, but, there is a large figure. That is why they've had a "curfew" to try and find out who is who, etc over the years. These "sleepers" are strategically poised -once given notice- to commit many various acts of terrorism and hit various targets. I doubt they'll show their hand and play that trump card in that regard just in and by itself, because, the strategy is to give them the green light simultaneously with a northern invasion or in event the south invades the north. However, these people are quite unpredictable, therefore, our intellgence can never be absolute in it's certainty. It's those "sleepers" that have come to my mind in reading this article. They are a formidable asset and force for the north and can reek havoc on the entire south with little prior notice.
Give the people of North Korea one month's warning. Then nuke the place for morbid. North Korea has done nothing to help anyone but themselves in...forever. They are a constant threat in their region and the world. It is time to let them know that the world won't tolerate this kind of BS anymore. Iran should be on that short list too.
Yeah, they're going to test a nuclear device very soon the problem is that it will be tested over Seoul.
All this is coming from a country that attempted to get a liquid propelled, 3-phase rocket into orbit and failed 90 seconds into launch. I am not saying that we should become complacent, but measure our abilities. Contrary to popular belief, there won't be anything to worry about for a while from N. Korea. By the time N. Korea gets a working device for delivering armament payloads, the United States will most likely have a working laser-defense system (really not sci-fi, look it up). In terms of weapons technology, they are about 60 years behind the United States, Japan, and S. Korea.
It never ceases to amaze me at how easily people throw around the idea of using nuclear weapons against a country. Pyongyang has a population of around 4.5MM people - a nuclear strike would kill the all. Let's list all of the people in history who have been responsible for so many deaths... Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot. There are few people in history who would count more than 1MM deaths that they are directly responsible for through naked aggression. Pretty sure there is no POTUS who wants to add his or her name to that list nor should they. This stalemate can be ended only by China and a stalwart resolution by the Western Allies that no support, food, medicine or of any kind, will go to North Korea. It would be ideal to tweak China for their support but we over-invested in their economy and that leverage is difficult to achieve. Stalemate.
Kim Jong better be careful or he will soon find himself in the company of his grandfather and father in the pits of hell. If he restarts the war or carries out another attack on the S it will be the beginning of the end for him and his lackeys.
BTW, the article downplays the rhetoric being used. Telling another nation that their leadership will be reduced to ashes in 3 or 4 minutes or less is, for all intents and purposes, a threat to use nuclear weapons. And the line about our peculiar way implies a means of delivery that is not conventional. Such statements must not go without response. And the response should not be "we will give you food aid". Blackmail should not be rewarded or encouraged.
Well said ! When people 'cry wolf' all the time, the wolf might still in fact show up. All the other threats have been easily recognized and them running their mouth wanting more food aid. But, this one - in my opinion- is very different and should be taken more seriously and with a serious response. In talking with many Suth Koreans, they all seem to be on the same page in saying that eventually there must be war, because the north will never know any other way. It's only a matter of when. The media can spin things any way they wish, but, we all do not need the media's help in realizing what must ultimately be.
Well go on then, do it! you pussies!
OK. The next time North Korea fires an artillery shell into South Korea, the appropriate response would be to drop a 300 megaton nuclear device squarely on the most important military installation in North Korea. They thing they know we won't do it, but we should surprise them and show them we're not bluffing, either.
Too bad our children owe so much money to the commie Chinese or we could tell them to tell the crazy bastard to have a hot steamy cup of STFU tea.
"Bark Bark Bark and Blah Blah Blah Please take us seriously"
More talking that won't lead to anything.
QUICK! Let's promise them ahhhh....A million tons of food and supplies this time? If they would only come back to the Table and discuss UN Resolutions. Oh they really don't mean anything on these threats. They are a Peaceful Nation. Just in this last couple of years they have only sunk 1 ship and fired on the South and killed couple of dozen folks. No Big Deal. We can just give em everything they wish. Tell them to make a Wish List.
1. Million Tons of Food and Supplies.
2. Royal A$$ kissing at The Table.
3. Saint Hood for the Jong's
4. Broken Promises Allowed
5. 15,000 Bottles of Dom Perignon for N. Korean Leaders
6. A life long pass for everyone on N.Korea to Disney World.
7. Last but not least "A Day at The White House" with our Supreme Leader Obama
All this will bring them to their senses I am sure. We just have not done enough in the past to appease them.
America will "Burn your cities DOWN" !!! and rightfully should anyway
Don't worry, everything will be OK; South Korea will just bend over and placate Kim Jong Un just like they always have with his father and grandfather. Kow-towing to North Korea has been part of the South's heritage for decades. Until South Korea learns to get over its fear and stand up for itself, nothing will change. Pretty soon South Korea will start paying monetary tribute. Take a look what happened after N. Korea sunk a South Korean destroyer (actually a corvette), the Cheonan, last year... absolutely nothing but appeasement, nada, zip, zero, the big goose egg:
same pattern over and over. NK has nothing. they claim this and that to destroy whomever, then the west or china vow to give them food aid. Then NK does something bizarre like this latest rocket explosion which then P's off the west and china and food aid is stopped, then NK claims this and that to destroy whomever, then the west and china vow to give them food aid. then NK does something bizarre which P's off the west and china and food aid is stopped, then NK claims this and that to destroy whomever, then the west and china vow to give them food aid. etc, etc, etc...
more and more I'm convinced that the dear "leader" is nothing more than a puppet of the a bi-polar military.
NK has been rattling that 3 foot long sword so much in the last 60 years, that if he does actually pull it out , he will find a LOT of metal filings and a 1 inch letter opener.