N. Korea warns of nuclear conflict

North Korea Forum

PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- North Korea has repeated warnings to its citizens and military that it believes the United States is preparing to launch a large-scale attack on it, including a pre-emptive nuclear strike.

Pyongyang cites upcoming U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises scheduled to begin on March 4, as "reckless war moves" designed to "unleash a total war on the Korean peninsula with a pre-emptive nuclear strike".

"The situation of the Korean Peninsula is reaching the brink of a nuclear war," the statement, issued by the official Korean Central News Agency, says.

The North also called on South Koreans to "wage a nationwide anti-U.S. and anti-war struggle to frustrate the U.S. moves for a nuclear war."

The United States denies it has any plans to attack North Korea, consistently saying it is seeking a diplomatic and political solution to the increasing tensions sparked by Pyongyang's decision to reactivate its nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday wrapped up a four-day tour of Japan, China and South Korea during which he lobbied Asian leaders to support a multi-lateral approach to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Powell repeated the U.S. position that it had no intention of invading North Korea and had no plans to impose fresh economic sanctions on the impoverished communist nation.

While Japan and South Korea indicated they might support a regional initiative to sway Pyongyang, China -- a key ally and aid donor to the North -- appeared to remain unconvinced.

China says the United States must deal with Pyongyang equally on a one-to-one basis.

"We believe diplomatic, political pressure still has a role to play. And there are countries who have considerable influence with the North Koreans who will continue to apply pressure," Powell said Tuesday.

"We also made it clear that if they begin reprocessing (nuclear material), it changes the entire political landscape. And we're making sure that is communicated to them in a number of channels."

Powell would not be drawn on how would Washington react if Pyongyang did begin reprocessing but did say that the U.S. had "no intention of invading" North Korea.

Tensions on the peninsula have been ratcheting up over the past few weeks with North Korea becoming increasingly provocative.

On Monday, the North fired a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, an act many believe was designed to upstage the inauguration of new South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. (Roh sworn in)

Last week, a North Korean MiG-19 fighter briefly flew into South Korean air space. (MiG incursion)

The North has also threatened to abandon the 1953 armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War.

Powell described North Korea's missile launch as "not surprising", saying the test appeared to be of an old, short-range missile system and was "fairly innocuous."

www.cnn.com

Listening to N. Korea spouting political announcements to me is like watching an insane person try to brush invisible rats off their body in horror - they seem to have no concept of reality.

How could they possibly think the U.S. was going to make a pre-emptive nuclear strike against them? That's one of the most absurd things I've heard in recent news. The scary part is what if they get to thinking they'll out-smart us by pre-empting out pre-emptiveness and sending a nuclear strike at US before we can send a pre-emptive nuclear strike at THEM - yeah, that'll learn us good! Foul morons.

That is very true. We can only hope he OD's on prozac somehow.
LOL

This is all a game to Kim Jong.. a very dangerous game mind you, but a game non-the less. The empire that's been under his family's power for generations is on the verge of collapse, and he's a desperate man that will stop at nothing to revive it. Yes, he is a threat that should be taken seriously, but he's in this for the money. They're in the "gimme money or I'll hurt you" mindset.


-aluminum

Yes, common thugs to be dealt with accordingly.

U.S. Carrier Arrives at S.Korea; N.Korea Voices War
Sat March 15, 2003 07:31 AM ET

ABOARD CARL VINSON, PUSAN, SOUTH KOREA (Reuters) - A U.S. aircraft carrier prepared to take part in U.S.-South Korean war games on Saturday, which North Korea described as a rehearsal for a nuclear attack, ratcheting up tensions over the reclusive communist state's nuclear program.
Impoverished North Korea, which has taken a series of provocative steps on the Cold War's last flashpoint over the past few months in its campaign for direct talks with Washington, took a dire view of the annual month-long exercises.

"The U.S. seeks to round off its preparations for a nuclear war against the DPRK (North Korea) at its final phase and mount a pre-emptive nuclear attack on it any time," Pyongyang's state-run newspaper Rodong Shinmun said on Saturday.

American military muscle has gone on full display in the South as the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was sent to the western Pacific after U.S. forces deployed six F-117A "Stealth" warplanes in the region this week. The U.S. air force also prepared to resume spy flights off the coast of North Korea.

The Carl Vinson, moored just outside the breakwater of Pusan harbor for a few days with 70 aircraft and eight squadrons, will go to sea to support U.S.-South Korean forces.

"Our primary mission is deterrence and influence," Navy Captain Richard B. Wren, the ship's commanding officer told a pool of reporters.

"Our presence in the region is not in direct response on North Korea, but certainly our presence can also be an influence," Wren said.