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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
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This latest threat from North Korea is so stupid that it doesn't even justify a response. When will they ever learn that being odd nation out only hurts them big time. - RC
Wake up Folks. China and Russia will keep North Korea as a barb in our flesh and North Korea will keep saber baring to get more blackmail/ransom from the rest of the world to be "good".
Good thing we have laser missile interceptors.
No fear, now we have women combat soldiers. We are becoming a third rate country so fast is is truly scary.
As a retired Marine Warrant Officer (Male), I find your comment to be classless.
@NewsM
About the most sexist thing I've heard yet
NewsM:
For your information, the women who are going to be trained for combat and actually engage in it will be just as required to pass physical combat training as men are. Actually it may be harder for women because of the attitudes of people like you. Bet you have the same opinion of gays being allowed in too; after all they are just big sissy girls, right?
How can they run a test that targets the U.S.? Do they really mean to fire upon us? I hope that NORAD and our other land- and sea-based nukes are target on North Korea! A pity we din't lay their country waste in the 1950s!
you guys are funny
who are we to say that another country cant have the same weapons that we have? or has to follow any ideology that we profess?
who is the only country in the world who ever dropped "the bomb" on another country? and wiped out hundreds of thousands of civilians?
ever since ww2 the US has been meddling and invading other countries and you wonder why they want the bomb? its the only deterent that keeps US away
While I'll concede that we have a disproportionate responsibility regarding money and defense in the UN, I'm not sure you are understanding the difference between US and UN. A large part of the world, both free and not quite so free, is perfectly happy trusting countries like us, with freedom, democracy, and a history of not using our power to be nearly as dominant as we could be, over these murdering, sick wack jobs. Sure, give North freaking Korea the power to launch nuclear missiles. And when they declare that the divine Kim Jung un owns all rainbows and must receive a tax for each one that appears, you can figure out what to do with these nutjobs with nuclear missiles. They told everyone that Kim Jong il's birth was heralded by a rainbow or a new star or something and that's no bullsh*t. See our leaders at least don't say they were divinely inspired to become Pres....oh crap. Dumbass Republicans!
Dano, Its like putting a sawed-off shotgun in the hands of a deranged 14 year old. There are reasons why countries like NK should not have nukes, its called immaturity.
Manifest Destiny went out in the 1800's and save Hawaii our Republic has not annexed any land by which to spread our citizenry. We purchased Alaska from Russia, so we've not set about taking any land from any other country. Our republic seeks to defend its shores, the shores of our allies and our universal interests therein. We've only asked for enough space to bury our dead.
What you call meddling, others call self preservation.
Why do these little punk-ass countries insist on trying to pick a fight with us?
Cause as a nation you cannot project weakness, and with how things have looked elsewhere in the world it's the only option they have, same goes for Iran or Venezuela etc..
Isn't this like a segment of "Kentucky Fried Movie"? There was a skit about a teaser for the late news, had a newsreader state: "Moscow in flames!! Missiles headed for New York!!! Film at 11."
Doesn't matter. If N. Korea strikes the US, or one of our protectorates, that will be the last thing they will ever do.
US could give them three ICBMs and tell them, "There they are. Choose wisely."
I welcome the obliteration of the North Korean Government, its people however should be spared from the stupidity of others. I think a Cluster bomb dropped on Parlament would be sufficient to send a word of warning should they decide to #1 point something toward us, and #2, have that something leave the ground. It doesnt matter who is in the oval office, there was an oath taken and failure to do so would be fatal to any future proposed policies.
So; overthrow the government, then leave and let the chaos begin when the civil wars break out, giving those that do want to annex more land and set up an extension of their tyrannical government a perfect place to start.
To everyone making statements regarding that they are not capable of hitting the United States, you do remember that we have 50 states? Hawaii is well within range. Now B.... at me all you want.
well I for one take this very seriously and am scared. we don't know as much as we think we do about North Korea. if the United States were too be attacked we are doomed as our military and supplies have been exhausted too the point we don't have much left and we can thank our stupid government for sticking their noses in the goings on in Irag and Afghanistan which we are doing nothing over there but getting our soldiers killed! and for what? the people in those countries hate us and most likely wish another country would NUKE us. so we need too stop thinking we are such big shots and that no other country can F#@* us up cause they can!!!
Where are you getting your information from about our supplies being almost exhausted? I think the US would have enough in reserve to counter N. Korea.
Yeah but there's a difference between these little wars where we have to nation-build, and win hearts and minds, and there's really no end-game, versus our ability to f*** s*** up! The things we could do, without ever putting a pair of boots on the ground, to a country that has gone rogue and tried to launch a missile at us, are incomprehensible. And especially if we have air superiority over a country, we'll devastate them. But this is why we eventually need a missile defense system, not for the impossible task of trying to shoot down a rain of Russian or Chinese ICBMs, but for a little rogue s***hole like this or some radical Muslim scumbags.
We can counter there capability yes, but the initial invasion on the south that they could deliver would crush SK and our forces stationed there. The repercussions overtime would be in our favor though.
Kim Jong - Un ? The last part of his name is UN ? I believe the name UN is missing 2 letters. C and T. Can you figure it out ?
Another intelligent, thought-provoking comment added to the discussion. Better get off now or you'll miss your school bus.
Who says they need rockets to strike the US. They could just walk it across the Mexican border.
Really glad to read the casual confidence that Korea cannot hit the US. It's also concerning to see how many underestimate the Korean resolve should we enter into conflict. Wiki the Korean war, lots of folks dead and no real decisive win for anyone. Never underestimate the underdog. Hats off to the Seals or GBs who drop the payload right back on the launch platform and make the world think it was another launch failure. Whoopum Gangman style!
UN ? It needs a C in the front and a T in the back and then you have it.
Gander; it wasn't clever the first time; certainly not worth repeating again.
I seriously doubt that China would come to their aid this time around if things get out of control. I'm sure China doesn't want to risk war with America over N. Korea.
So the North Koreans are gonna fire their weaponry at us. Don't they know that the USA has weapons that will make their country....Well I'll just say that the rock group Kansas sang it best with one of their biggest hits back in the 1970's.
My, my, all talk but no action is good but threats must be taken seriously. Give them what they want and they'll do bad, don't give them what they need and they'll do worse it seems. Apparently they're getting help to be such a bold country, making such strongly worded statements. Maybe others have their back, and backstabbing the US at the same time. Hey, it all comes down to who wants to be #1, and who really is...drumroll please - you just may be surprised, or might i say surpassed and outnumbered. One is all alone.
I like how all these gaytards in North Korea and in the Middle East manage to not realize that the only thing stopping them from becoming communist, religion-forbidden Chinese colonies is our existence.
U people make me laugh. You actually think you know what you are talking about. Damn all these experts on NK, China, Russia. And lets not forget weapons. None of you know jack about what you are talking about. LMAO
Pee Wee Herman threatens Godzilla? LOL
China will get their bastard stepchild NK in line quickly. War is bad for China's love of business profits.
There have been some comments here suggesting that targeting the U.S. is what China wants North Korea to do.
To begin with, why couldn't China instead of North Korea target its own missile to the United States?
Secondly, it isn't common knowledge that California Senator Barbara Boxer's husband heads a fleet of ships which cargos to Los Angeles and San Francisco products made in China. Any missile North Korea targets to the United States would have to be capable of reaching the state of California. Who, then, truly wants such a missile launched targeting California, and who doesn't? Senator Barbara Boxer, her husband, China, or North Korea?
This is "saber rattling bull-spit" - fergitaboutit.
Do not take this seriously. It is only negotiation.