Seoul (AP): North Korea said on Monday its armed forces are "fully combat ready" and that they will retaliate against any attempt to intercept its planned satellite launch, which neighbouring goverments suspect might be a missile test.
The harsh rhetoric came as the United States and South Korea kicked off annual war games involving tens of thousands of troops, which the communist nation has condemned as preparations for an invasion.
The joint drills across South Korea began as concerns mounted that Pyongyang could be gearing up to test-fire a long-range missile capable of reaching US territory. North Korea says what it plans to launch is a communications satellite, but neighbouring governments believe it is a cover for a missile test.
"If the enemies recklessly opt for intercepting our satellite, our revolutionary armed forces will launch without hesitation a just retaliatory strike operation not only against all the interceptor means involved but against the strongholds of the US and Japanese aggressors," the general staff of the North's military said in a statement.
"Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war," said the statement, carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency.
US and Japanese officials have suggested that they might shoot down a North Korean missile if it's deemed necessary.
No comments:
Post a Comment