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SEOUL - North Korea said on Thursday it would carry out further rocket launches and a nuclear test that would target the United States, dramatically stepping up its threats against a country it called its "enemy".
The announcement by the country's top military body came a day after the United Nations Security Council agreed a U.S.-backed resolution to censure and sanction the country for a rocket launch in December that breached U.N. rules.
Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea policy Glyn Davies, center, speaks at a news conference in Seoul on Thursday.
"We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States," North Korea's National Defense Commission said, according to state news agency KCNA.
North Korea is believed by South Korea and other observers to be "technically ready" for a third nuclear test, and the decision to go ahead rests with leader Kim Jong-un who pressed ahead with the December rocket launch in defiance of the U.N. sanctions.
"Whether North Korea tests or not is up to North Korea," Glyn Davies, the top U.S. envoy for North Korean diplomacy, said in the South Korean capital of Seoul as KCNA released its statement.
"We hope they don't do it. We call on them not to do it," Davies said. "This is not a moment to increase tensions on the Korean peninsula."
The North was banned from developing missile and nuclear technology under sanctions dating from its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests.
The concern now is that Pyongyang, whose only major diplomatic ally, China, endorsed the latest U.N. resolution, could undertake a third nuclear test using highly enriched uranium for the first time, opening a second path to a bomb.
North Korea's propaganda poets stay true to their muse despite world's laughter
Its previous tests have been viewed as limited successes and used plutonium, of which the North has limited stocks.
North Korea gave no time-frame for the coming test and often employs harsh rhetoric in response to U.N. and U.S. actions.
Its long-range rockets are not seen as capable of reaching the United States mainland and it is not believed to have the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile.
"The UNSC (Security Council) resolution masterminded by the U.S. has brought its hostile policy towards the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) to its most dangerous stage," the commission was quoted as saying.
Related:
North Korea pledges to boost nuclear capability after UN rebuke
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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Sigh..... So much for that flag of truths the new leader of N korea offered a month or so ago. Like father like son.
Lots of tough talk here. Until North Korea does something tangible they are nothing more than the Nat on the ass of the USA.
you don't squish gnats where you're from?
None of this is going to be politically correct. But it's time we take a hard line with these people who want to kills us. It's time to take the gloves off. That little punk that is now running the country needs to be taught a lesson. Start out by sending some videos of what happened the first time around in Iraq and if that doesn't get his attention....maybe some videos from Japan. Instead of cowering down scared, we need to grow a set and show them what exactly we will do to protect our citizens. They will never make or agree to any sort of peace with us so we should just make the consequences perfectly clear.
It's time to introduce them to Missouri's slogan. It will make that lil twit 'leader' look like a fool. And his own people will do him in. We can't invade North Korea, but we can introduce their test sites to our cruise missiles. It's not like North Korea wouldn't sponsor any terrorists now, as it is.
Rockets that blow up, or can't stay on course. Nukes that fizzle. Really, we're in more danger from an evening of TV commercials.
your weak!!!! better go climb in your bomb shelter now hunny!!
North Korea doesn't need to have the capability to hit mainland U.S. Hawaii is only 4500 miles from North Korea. Actually, all North Korea needs to do is attack South Korea, Japan or the Philippine Islands and that will tie us up in another war, bleeding us to death economically like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
You are right on the money!!.
It would be over so quick, it take longer to get a seat at Spark's Steak Lounge. If we don't invade, but just introduce them to Tampa.
I'm the furthest thing from a warmonger. However, at some point, I wonder if the U.S. and its allies should negotiate with China, to gain their assurance that they would not interfere with a limited military strike against North Korea. I don't mean drone strikes. It could be a conventional, boots on the ground attack, keeping civilian casualties to a minimum, but making sure that they don't have the capability to enrich uranium or develop a reliable transport system.
I've read a few reports that Kim Jong Un may not be quite as crazy as his father, and maybe letting him know that his rhetoric won't go unanswered will encourage him to not only stop the war talk, but begin diplomatic relations with the U.S. and South Korea.
I feel like North Korea and Iran are in the same boat. I wonder if NK will be treated as badly as Iran is being treated? Iran is having their people present now at satellite tests now in NK, will Iran be present at future nuclear and rocket launches also that NK will be testing? What will sanctions and maybe kicking NK out of UN meets and things like that do? Is Israel really going to attack Iran if they get or test a nuclear missile? Iran and NK are two different countries and I don’t think NK will attack Israel but Iran and NK don’t like America. Those two countries are going rogue and will most likely not fight together against an enemy. They need to get out of being hated soon or everyone will go against them.
Hopefully they will target L.A. in a surprise attack. This will eliminate a good portion of the touchy feel-goods that think we can all get along. It will eliminate much of the decay that has permeated this country via television for the last 30 years. It will slap the rest of the west coast liberals in the face and hopefully knock some sense into them.
i am neither rep nor Dem. as far as im concerned
this country is heading in a very bad derection and we all and i mean all!!!!!! will pay the price.
i read alot of posts and i tell you a country that's divided surly cannot stand!!! holey wars megadeth
Looks like will give more to North Korea.
It is time to take out North Korea once and for all.
Put the Air Force and Navy on their borders and start launching "smart" bombs... give them a taste of "shock and awe"...
Score: USA - 1 North Korea - 0
USA - 999 North Korea - 0
Ok in response set up a line of nuclear tipped tomahawk missiles on the border of north and south Korea. The first time those #!$%^ jerks send a nuke over at any else except china obliterate them.
just launch nuke tipped cruises from submarines offshore. no warning. no nuttin. just BAMMM. time to let our stick do the talkin and their asses getting what it's saying.
Let's tell them .. BOOM M.F. !!!!
Why is it we always get involved in matters that are not our business, but when someone finally does directly threaten us we do nothing? We really can't round up support for some type of globally endorsed actions (not saying military...at first), to show North Korea this will not be tolerated? Maybe China won't back it, but come on the rest of the world has enough sense. Do we really need to wait for the West Coast to be obliterated before we take action and gain support?
The day isn't over yet.
i have to say, dont you think they know what kind weapons we have.
i dont thiink they give a @!$%# one way or the other. ya we could take em out with a nuclear blast. what about the rest of the Communist world better get them too!
third world war nukeem all right?
we are not above reproach or invasion let buck ofama take the guns from American citizens so the commie can be king of the world
they all hate us due to our political giants whom gets away with whatever without consequence one world order
the threat is real you dont know what korea has accomplished or if china is involved or any other nation for that matter 1st strike sets the stage.they dont care if they live or die.
look at n.k. on google wold at night they are the only country in the dark (no lights)
with a very large military and ready to die for their leader
i personally would not be willing to die for my corrupt leader
however i would pickup my arms with my fellow americans to preserve our freedom.
Well I guess they have to hit us from a distance, cause if they came over here, most of our citizens are equiped with military style rifles and will fight back. But they probably wont have to worry about that much longer. Our Protector And Chief and every democratic/liberal woman with a mouth is taking care of that problem for them :)
The every day threat of war and invasion is real people. No one likes us, including our neighbors Canada & Mexico. Get READY, SHTF at any given moment. Grow a pair or run scarred.
NK leaders should really get a grip on reality and not let their battleship mouth overload their row boat a$$.
So, does anyone realize the pure insanity of such factors involved here? I mean nations like China, Russia, the USA, intentional acts of escalation, NUCLEAR WEAPONS?
Does anyone that including the leaders of all of these countries, realize that nuclear weapons in their current yield and quantity CANNOT be used. EVER! These weapons will destroy the planet and everything on it that is worth a damn. The very presence of such a threat is a test of humanity. Do we waste everything we have for nothing? Or do we realize what not to do and what we have?
yes, I understand the 'impact' the corrupt regimes of Russia and China have. They're not going to risk their personal pot of gold for a ten round fight with the USA that they can not possibly win, over some twit kid with a funny haircut.
and, it sends a message loud and clear, in pictures, what happens to a nation that threatens the USA with war. we'll take that war and make'm choke. you can not talk to bullies, you have to kill them to be free of them. China is not in a position to do much about anything we do to Korea. It wasn't in 1954, and it is not even now.
I think this all started because of a video making fun of Kim Jung un's mom. I hope the State Department has enough money now to protect our ambassador there......
Time to hack North Korea's TV station and air their evening news with Pres Obama saying that lil YinYang threatened the United States with nuclear attack. If North Korea does not surrender YingYang's head within 48 hours, their ass is grass.
at what point do we say enough is enough. NUKE THE BASTARDS!
At that point, wouldn't Pakistan, Russia and China be fully justified in dropping nuclear weapons on New York City, Atlanta or Los Angeles? Or are you saying you support MAD (mutually assured destruction) and just want to get the global massacre over with?
Hurry obama, give them more billions in food and aid, just don't take it from the money you give to the lousy paki's or egypt or china or any of the other dozens of countries you hand out borrowed american money too.
This country is broken....
Well now Keith, Obama is fixing the country by pulling us out of Paki etc and not paying anybody anything over there.
IF, GWB had sent the CIA into Afghanistan to kill Bin Ladin, on a warrant with no further need to confirm execution of the warrant, with the right resources, then it would have been all over in a few months. No invasions of anybody. Done. But it was managed as poorly as can be from GWB's gang. Real poor.
Remember we are technically still at war with North Korea. We live under a ceasae fire not a surrender. Should have finished this when we had the chance.
Not really. Even though there was no peace treaty, there was a final armistice agreement signed in July 1953 which ended the war. However, because no peace treaty was signed, North Korea still believes they won.
I think N. Korea is sadly mistaken if they think they can bully their way to bombing the United States. Seriously, if Pyongyang wants to pick a fight, it'll be something they'll regret! We will not stand idle taking punches from anyone who hates us, we'll fight back and win!
yea cause it worked so well in Vietnam , Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
yea cause it worked so well in Vietnam , Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pyongyang is not the capital it is a show city built on the DMZ to make SKs believe that all of NK lives like that. Basically you could call it Properganda Prop.
we should have nuked them on our way out...
Please stop feeding Kim's paranoia. It's one thing to tease paranoids (personally, I love doing that), but it's another to feed their fanatasies.
Please stop feeding all of us your paranoia of Kim and big ol' North Korea. If this is making your so paranoid sign off now, you'll only give yourself nightmares! Pfft!
Think. Kim may be a thorough going psycho, & dumb as a stump, but his generals aren't. They can't be, or noone would obey their orders. So if Kim orders one to push the button, he'll draw his sidearm & shoot Kim right through the skull.
They know. There are 2 nuclear armed nations, China & Russia, on their border, & every other nearby country is an ally of a nuclear armed nation. Pop a nuke & the retaliation converts North Korea to a radioactive parking lot. No senior military commander will allow that to happen to his country. Would you?
Of course there'll be another state funeral. So sad. Apparently the Beloved Successor had an accident while cleaning a gun. Or whatever story they cook up.
Let's send flowers.
musician666, you appearently have no concept of how these people think or of their structure. They don't think anywheres near like we do. Kim is supreme even to his Generals and they will folow his commands UNQUESTIONABLY.
That's a big 'IF". I wouldn't want anybody in NYC to make their life dependent on that 'IF".