- 13 Apr 2017 08:25
#14796450
USA v North Korea?
Kim Jong-un’s state-owned news agency KCNA claimed Trump’s deployment showed “reckless moves for invading” that had now “reached a serious phase”.
North Korean state media today warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a U.S. pre-emptive strike as a U.S. Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific.
Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test.
North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States.
"Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," it said.
A foreign ministry statement from the North Korean government on KCNA said: “We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.
"The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”
Today, the Russia Foreign Ministry said it was extremely concerned by Washington's stance on North Korea.
Tillerson is due to hold talks with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, tomorrow and the Russians, in a statement dedicated to his visit, said it was extremely worried by the possibility that the United States might decide to take unilateral military action against North Korea.
Former MI6 head Sir John Sawers has warned that tensions with North Korea were actually a much bigger threat to world peace than the war in Syria.
“If you are looking for a world crisis which could bring about the dangers of a clash between great powers then North Korea is a bigger concern than Syria,” he told BBC Four’s Today programme.
“I think what the Chinese are beginning to understand is that if this can’t be solved peaceably through negotiations, through pressure, then there is serious risk that the US will have only one option left, which is the military option.”
He said that the Americans have strengthened forces in the Korean Peninsula, deployed a battle group and demonstrated that the “US was willing to use force against another state to uphold international order”.
Zhang Tuosheng, an expert from the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said: “Neither the US nor North Korea would take the initiative to wage a war, but the risk of conflict is higher as a small miscalculation or accident could bring war to the peninsula.”
Ms Zhang added: “The scale of the US and South Korean joint military drills is becoming bigger, and pre-emptive exercises send a clear warning to Kim that the US can destroy North Korea if it wants."
The tensions come after a Navy carrier strike group was spotted moving toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide a physical presence near the Korean Peninsula.
With 30,000 troops stationed in its southern counterpart, experts claim North Korea may miscalculate Trump's attempts to display his military strength as actions to insinuate conflict
Kim Jong-un’s state-owned news agency KCNA claimed Trump’s deployment showed “reckless moves for invading” that had now “reached a serious phase”.
North Korean state media today warned of a nuclear attack on the United States at any sign of a U.S. pre-emptive strike as a U.S. Navy strike group led by a nuclear-powered aircraft steamed towards the western Pacific.
Tension has escalated sharply on the Korean peninsula with talk of military action by the United States gaining traction following its strikes last week against Syria and amid concerns the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test.
North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the country was prepared to respond to any aggression by the United States.
"Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the U.S. invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the U.S. mainland," it said.
A foreign ministry statement from the North Korean government on KCNA said: “We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.
"The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”
Today, the Russia Foreign Ministry said it was extremely concerned by Washington's stance on North Korea.
Tillerson is due to hold talks with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, tomorrow and the Russians, in a statement dedicated to his visit, said it was extremely worried by the possibility that the United States might decide to take unilateral military action against North Korea.
Former MI6 head Sir John Sawers has warned that tensions with North Korea were actually a much bigger threat to world peace than the war in Syria.
“If you are looking for a world crisis which could bring about the dangers of a clash between great powers then North Korea is a bigger concern than Syria,” he told BBC Four’s Today programme.
“I think what the Chinese are beginning to understand is that if this can’t be solved peaceably through negotiations, through pressure, then there is serious risk that the US will have only one option left, which is the military option.”
He said that the Americans have strengthened forces in the Korean Peninsula, deployed a battle group and demonstrated that the “US was willing to use force against another state to uphold international order”.
Zhang Tuosheng, an expert from the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said: “Neither the US nor North Korea would take the initiative to wage a war, but the risk of conflict is higher as a small miscalculation or accident could bring war to the peninsula.”
Ms Zhang added: “The scale of the US and South Korean joint military drills is becoming bigger, and pre-emptive exercises send a clear warning to Kim that the US can destroy North Korea if it wants."
The tensions come after a Navy carrier strike group was spotted moving toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide a physical presence near the Korean Peninsula.
With 30,000 troops stationed in its southern counterpart, experts claim North Korea may miscalculate Trump's attempts to display his military strength as actions to insinuate conflict
- By late
- By FiveofSwords
- By Puffer Fish