North Korea threatens ‘indiscriminate’ military strikes on South, nuclear

Tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops Monday began a military exercise simulating an all-out North Korean attack, as Pyongyang matched Seoul in resuming a loudspeaker propaganda campaign across their heavily-fortified border.

The exercise is not being altered in any way because of ongoing concerns with North Korea, including an August 4 land mine explosion that maimed two South Korean soldiers, CFC said Monday.

But South Korean public broadcaster KBS, citing an unidentified military official, reported that the North Korean broadcasts mainly included criticism of South Korea and praises for North Korea’s political system.

North Korea is ready to “retaliate against the U.S. with tremendous muscle”, according to a spokesman for North Korea’s National Defense Commission (NDC).

“[North Korea] is the invincible power equipped with both [the] latest offensive and defensive means unknown to the world”.

The drill has been held every year following North Korea’s botched attempt in 1968 to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee – the late father of the current president – by sending a group of commandos to infiltrate Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea’s presidential office.

“Pyongyang’s official rhetoric remains a good indicator of possible small-scale provocative actions during the exercise period”.

The North Korean National Defense Commission also demanded that South Korea and the U.S. stop upcoming military drills.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), a Korean War veteran, is scheduled to arrive here on Wednesday for a five-day stay, they said.

The armistice which brought the Korean War to an end in 1953 was never replaced by a full peace treaty.

North Korea also warned that it would launch “indiscriminate strikes” unless the South calls off its own renewed propaganda broadcasts, which aim to undermine the reclusive state’s strict control of information.

The resumption of the exchange of propaganda is a set back in North-South relations which stopped in 2004 to ease animosities, although 11 loudspeakers were restored in 2010 by South Korea when North Korea was blamed for the sinking of a warship that killed 46 sailors.

She said: “Provocations and threats only lead to isolation and destruction”.

State news agency KCNA said earlier this week “wicked Japanese imperialists” had “deprived Korea of even its standard time” by changing the clocks during the occupation.

In using clocks to make a political statement, North Korea may be borrowing a page from the Chinese Communist Party playbook.