South Korea has ‘plan to reduce Pyongyang to ashes’

Seoul’s defense ministry repeated its claim from last week that the North has an additional tunnel set up at its Punggye-ri site – the location of all five tests since 2006.

Meanwhile, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told of his fears of another nuclear test in the North.

“Indications have been gathered that the North has completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test at any time in the third tunnel that has not been used previously”, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted one of the sources as saying on Monday. The city, he said, “will be reduced to ashes and removed from the map”.

The report boasted that North Korea will continue to strengthen its nuclear arsenal despite backlash from the global community, and dismissed the Obama administration.

North Korea’s pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons is one of the most intractable foreign policy problems for the USA and South Korea.

“We continue to work together to urge China to implement existing Security Council resolutions.and to work with us to make sure North Korea’s behaviour and their deliberation change in a more productive and positive direction”, Kim said.

On Friday North Korea carried out what it said was its fifth, and largest, nuclear test.

“In addition to action in the Security Council, both the USA and Japan, together with the Republic of Korea, will be looking at unilateral measures, as well as bilateral measures, as well as possible trilateral co-operation”, he said, referring to South Korea by its official name.

Washington also plans to stage an overflight of South Korea by two B-1B Lancer supersonic bombers as a show of strength, Yonhap news agency said.

Obama reaffirmed, as he has done repeatedly following North Korean ballistic missile launches, the U.S. commitment to “take necessary steps to defend our allies in the region”, namely South Korea and Japan.

However, North Korea on Sunday called such attempts “laughable”, maintaining its determination to further strengthen its nuclear power.

The resolution should also expand the scope of North Korean entities and individuals targeted, the senior official told a group of reporters on condition of anonymity.

The 15-member Security Council imposed severe sanctions on Pyongyang in March following its fourth nuclear explosion, including an export ban and asset freeze.