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Subscribe to RSSSEOUL -- Isolated North Korea claimed Tuesday that the U.S. mainland is "within the scope" of its missiles, two days after South Korea struck a deal with the United States to extend the range of its ballistic missiles.
North and South Korea have been technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and regional powers have for years been trying to rein in the North's nuclear weapons program.
North Korea is believed to be developing a long-range missile with a range of 4,160 miles or more aimed at hitting the United States, but two recent rocket tests both failed.
Its neighbors fear the North is using rocket launches to perfect technology to build a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the United States.
'U.S. imperialist aggression'
North Korea's National Defense Commission said in a statement that the North was prepared to counter any U.S. military threats, its KCNA news agency said.
"We do not hide (the fact) that the revolutionary armed forces ... including the strategic rocket forces are keeping within the scope of strike not only the bases of the puppet forces and the U.S. imperialist aggression forces' bases in the inviolable land of Korea, but also Japan, Guam and the U.S. mainland," KCNA said.
Official: North Korean soldier kills two officers, defects to South
Pyongyang refuses to let failed rocket launch dampen tone of festivities.
An expert in the South expressed skepticism over the claims.
"There is no evidence that North Korea has succeeded in tests of a missile with a range long enough to hit the U.S. mainland," Yun Duk-Min, a professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, said, according to the AFP news agency.
US-Japan agree on new defense system to counter North Korea ballistic missiles
South Korea on Sunday unveiled an agreement with the United States that extends the range of its ballistic missiles by more than twice its current limit to about 500 miles as a deterrent against the North.
North Korea is under heavy U.N. sanctions that have cut off its previously lucrative arms trade and further isolated the state after its failed 2009 missile test drew sharp rebukes, even from its one major ally, China.
Glimpses of North Korean life exposed by AP photographer
The United States has denied it has any intention to strike North Korea. It has more than 20,000 troops stationed in the South in defense of its ally against the North.
In April, under its new leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea again launched a rocket that flew just a few minutes covering a little over 60 miles before blowing up over the sea between South Korea and China.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Only when North Korean claims that their missiles can reach Israel will there be any attention paid to them. As you can read here by so many comments, we blow off any claims of what they can or will do. However, when Iran makes a threat of blowing israel off the map, it's the end of the world. We can be under their missile scope and it's fine because it's summed up as just another idle threat. Don't try to threaten israel though or you'll quickly be sanctioned and have our military at your doorstep. It's sad how we go into drama mode when israel is threatened and yet when it's our mainland, oh well....... I'm sure Peal Harbor Vets aren't crazy about this story. Philsbury Dough Boy Kim - Just don't threaten Israel and you'll be o.k.
That would solve their lack of food problem. Fewer people with radiation poisoning want to eat, especially when their food is evaporated in the blast. That crew cut/ hair-dued little tyrant needs some time, in the Time Out Chair. Even the Chinese have to think their neighbor is a bit off his nut.
Obama, now how did that deal work? We send N. Korea aid and they agree to.............
Perhaps it is time to turn them into glass, then ask, "Who wants to be next?"
Leave me alone Kim Jong-un... It would be un-wise to kill your ever knowledgeable ruler of earth. for what's mine is yours... without me you'll have nothing and then nobody worthy enough to show it to.
Surely there are US missile within range of North Korea. They shoot first and the US will quickly finish them. Guess the North Korean don't understand history. Free advise: Get off the drugs! Wars are non starters. Instead of talking about missile within range of the US, get involve and help build a space program. There are a lot of planets and asteroids, out there, with raw materials that can benefit all humans and help all economies. We do not have enough humans on this planet to explore what is in space. Get in the mix North Korea. Ask the question: How can we help?
Of course there are missiles within range! They are called Nuclear submarines that have at least 12 war heads on board. Enough to melt down TEXAS. Subs have more destructive power than anything on earth.
I hate the morons I share this country with.
Comment # 34 deleted, racist derailing.
JDOG666, you are suspended for a day.
I'm reading the comments, most people forget that we have submarines with nuclear strike abilities. If they launched a missle, it would be shot down, but our subs could lob a dozen nukes on them, virtually destroying the country. Good thing our Hyundais come from South Korea.
..... Bring on the M65 from retirement and sit it near the DMZ.... That'll make them think twice.
It's hilarious how much North Korea wants to act all big and bad.. If China wasn't an Ally... and wouldn't back them when they do stupid crap.... North Korea would be mighty hurt right now.. but considering China doesn't want all those people who will flee should war break out.... they wont have it.
Kim Jung Un needs to be taught that threatening the US is only meet with overwhelming force and a scaple of precision munitions.
1 Million troops vs a Daisy Cutter or Cluster Munitions wouldn't be pretty for them.
Yo! NK! Eff off! Did you forget that you are within range of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, oh, and yeah, OUR NUKES! Bring it if you can, NK. But you will be ashes when you do.
And BTW, take that inbred twit you call a leader and shove him!
look at them .they look like death warmed over and stayed over. freekin a$$holes. they look so miserable and evil. FFS!!! if only we had a president with Balls.
well looks like America is being aimed at. and you people who think we can knock them out . don't you think they have thought of that? these people are like demons and they don't give a rats arse. and I bet we have no back up .I bet tis so called joke of a president has sold us out .
in the meantime people just keep playing your video games and texing and go about your day and live a happy life, so when it happens you won't even know it happened.
can anyone say POOF!!!
POOF
Maybe we should announce that we have missles that can now reach North Korea by the thousands.
Hey Mitt-wit!! Can you buy these people??!!!
I'm sure that if we ever saw them arming missles,(yes, we can see what they are doing from satellites) we would have a nuke sub sitting underwater off their coast. They appear to be a country that likes to make noise, with little to back them up. They must have forgotten that this is no longer 1953, and the weapons available to US are much more advanced. Also, our men are equipped with the best equipment should ground forces be necessary.
yada yada yada hooo hummm.... whatever dude
I say go for it. Attacking America worked out so well for Osama bin Laden. :p
sooner or later one of their rockets will do a 360 and blow themselves up ...hopefully landing on a few of their idiot leaders heads
The caption from the pic in the article:
"Pyongyang refuses to let failed rocket launch dampen tone of festivities."
Made me lol
IF we had a strong President the statement would go something like this...
"The USA does not object what so ever to North Korea's statement that their missiles can now reach our mainland, however... let one Korean finger get even close to the trigger then mark my words... We WILL have no hesitation and without any warning, turn your country into a permanent sea of glass.
Thank you my fellow Americans, and may God Bless.
now that would be the ideal way but we don't have a president like that. he will be the first one in the bomb shelters they built for the congress. and feck us all.
and the upteen nukes we have pointed at them means nothing? I think we can deliver a nuke alot faster than korea
Yeah like a missile would stand a chance of hitting the US mainland after flying over the entire Pacific ocean. That thing would be detected and shot down LONG before it got near the US mainland and then NK would finally have lights at night (because it would be glowing from our Nuke).
The silouete of one of the missle pictured looks like a 1950s Nike. Are they that far behind?
Ummm......are you sure Nike was even a corporation back in the 50s???????????.
Don't tell Mitt or Netanyahu - They'll draw us a pretty picture of a bomb and tell us how israel is being threatened again mommy. Threaten the rest of the world but please, please, please don't ever think of threatening israel because those are considered "real" threats. Pearl Harbor was just a myth..........
safer with obama, only if you are muslim
"Jeepers, Molly, jeepers creepers." I'm scared. Big, tough North korea is threatening me. Maybe they assume China will rescue them if they are stupid enough to try something like that. I expect the U.S. has laser beam interception devices ready to destroy any missiles before they get 100 ft off the ground. They'd be nuking themselves. LOL
Don't be so much lol, the reports said the missle exploded half way to China. That missle could have been working perfectly. They sure as Heck are not going to let it hit their Allie, Duh. These Missles do have a "Command Burst" Switch, a man controlled switch that overrides the preprogrammed commands. That missle failure you believe was probably a great success.
6dogs, FYI, it's only a few miles from NK to China. A little farther to San Fransicko.