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               N. Korea Threatens Preemptive Nuclear Attack on US

   by VOA News

   North Korea is threatening a preemptive nuclear strike on the United
   States, as the U.N. Security Council prepares to approve tough new
   sanctions in response to Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.
   The North's foreign ministry on Thursday said the country would
   exercise its "right to pre-emptive nuclear attack against the
   headquarters of the aggressor." It said the move was necessary because
   the "United States is about to ignite a nuclear war."
   North Korea has made recent strides in its nuclear and missile
   programs, but is not believed to have the ability to launch a
   long-range rocket with a nuclear warhead. It regularly makes such
   statements at times of heightened tension on the Korean peninsula.
   The threat comes just hours before the U.N. Security Council votes on a
   U.S.-drafted resolution which would impose some of the strongest
   sanctions ever ordered by the United Nations.
   South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Cho Tai-young says Seoul is
   satisfied with the draft text of the resolution.
   "If the draft resolution is adopted as it is, our government regards it
   as a good one with strengthening the existing sanctions and including
   many elements of new sanctions," said Cho.
   The resolution would block any financial services or money transfers
   that help Pyongyang's nuclear or missile programs. It would also
   tighten travel bans and strengthen inspections of cargo into and out of
   North Korea.
   Ahead of the vote, North Korea has already threatened to void the 1953
   armistice that ended the Korean war and announced a series of military
   exercises to compete with drills being held by the U.S. and South
   Korea. Reports say Pyongyang has been taking steps to camouflage public
   transport and broadcast messages from citizens in favor of war.
   The South has vowed swift retaliation in the event of any North Korean
   military action. Defense ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok says Seoul
   is closely monitoring the border.
   "The North is currently conducting various drills on land, sea, and
   air," said Kim. "We are watching the North's activities and stepping up
   readiness under the assumption that these drills can lead to
   provocation at any time."
   The commander of U.S. Forces in South Korea, General James Thurman,
   also released a statement saying he was concerned about Pyongyang's
   threat, warning he is ready to defend South Korea and "fully enforce
   the conditions of the armistice."
   Though such threats area not unusual, North Korea's rhetoric has become
   more heated following international condemnation of its February
   nuclear test and December missile launch, which were major steps in its
   nuclear program.
   Korea analyst Malcolm Cook says the latest Security Council resolution,
   if approved, could further narrow North Korea's ability to get around
   existing sanctions targeting its nuclear and missile programs.
   "The sanctions are becoming much more targeted and not just focusing on
   general forms of transactions, but [focus on] individuals and
   companies, which shows a greater level of cooperation between those
   that negotiated them," said Cook.
   The resolution would freeze the assets and ban travel of officials from
   three North Korean weapons dealers. It would also blacklist a
   government science academy and trading company linked to North Korea's
   military.
   The U.N. Security Council already imposed sanctions against North Korea
   following nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Analysts say the success of
   the newest sanctions depend on China's willingness to enforce them.
   Scott Kennedy, a senior fellow and Korea analyst at the Council on
   Foreign Relations, says that it remains to be seen whether Beijing,
   Pyongyang's closest ally, will cooperate.
   "I think it's generally promising that the United States and China were
   able to work together on the resolution, but we haven't seen an
   indication of a change of policy in China toward North Korea," said
   Kennedy.
   China is North Korea's largest trade partner and supplies crucial
   economic aid to the impoverished country. Observers say it is fearful
   that any unrest resulting from a political collapse may spill over to
   its borders.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-threatens-preemptive-nuclear-attack-on-us/1616792.html