North Korea warns of war over South’s propaganda broadcasts

In response to North Korea’s latest nuclear test, South Korea on Thursday announced it would resume cross-border propaganda broadcasts that Pyongyang considers an act of war.

Besides the “brink of war” comment, Workers’ Party Secretary Kim Ki Nam said in comments broadcasts on state TV on Friday that Pyongyang’s rivals are “jealous” of the North’s successful hydrogen bomb test.

North Koreans are prohibited from listening to K-pop, but defectors have said their countrymen enjoy music and other elements of South Korea popular culture that are smuggled into the country on USB sticks and DVDs.

They included karaoke favourites such as the upbeat dance hit Bang, Bang, Bang.

A senior South Korean government official said: “North Korea’s nuclear development is a problem that could infringe on our right to live”.

While the U.S. and its allies have cast doubt on North’s testing allegation, they have pledged to launch a “united and strong” response and the UN Security Council has threatened North Korea with new sanctions.

Without access to hard currency, North Korea couldn’t buy parts and supplies for its weapons programs, crippling its missile production line, Royce said.

Meanwhile, North Korea has defended its test of what it called a miniaturised hydrogen bomb – a claim largely dismissed by experts who argue the yield was far too low for a full-fledged thermonuclear device.

South Korean companies – mostly small- and medium-sized – make products such as watches and fashion goods with cheap labor from North Korea.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have discussed the deployment of American “strategic assets”, Seoul’s defence ministry said.

North Korea has long pushed for an arsenal of warheads that can be mounted on a missile capable of reaching mainland America’s shores.

The United States needs to work with Japan, South Korea, China and Russian Federation to figure out a new strategy for dealing with North Korea under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.

There are also news reports that North Korea has boosted the amount of artillery and number of troops near the heavily fortified demilitarized zone, or DMZ, a 4km-wide buffer.

At this meeting, Japanese Deputy Minister Yoo, the South Korean Deputy Minister of National Defence for Policy; David Shear, the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and Director General Satoshi Maeda, the Japanese Ministry of Defence Director General for Defence Policy represented their respective countries. “We urge North Korea to fulfill its promise of denuclearisation and stop any actions that would worsen the situation”.

Responding to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s opinion that China should step up on the North Korea issue or face repercussions, Chinese newspaper Global Times carried a scathing critique: “In no way will China bear the responsibilities that the U.S., South Korea and Japan should take”. Officials refused to elaborate, but the assets would be likely to include B-52 bombers, F-22 stealth fighters and nuclear-powered submarines.