Pyongyang threatens opponents with nuclear strike

(Vatican Radio) As the United Nations Security Council geared up to vote on new sanctions against North Korea, Pyongyang threatened to launch a nuclear strike against opponents such as the United States.

Listen to regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn's report...


North Korea's foreign ministry said the country would exercise what it called its "right"
to a "pre-emptive nuclear attack" against aggressors, because, it said, the United States is pushing for nuclear war anyway.

The declaration was carried by North Korea's state news agency.

North Korea set off a nuclear device last month, and has an arsenal of
short- and mid-range rockets, but it remains unclear whether it could attach a bomb to a missile.

The threat came hours ahead of a vote on a new, fourth round of sanctions by the U.N. Security Council: North Korea urged it not to act as a "war servant" of the United States.

The sanctions were expected to include measures to make it harder for North Korea to finance its nuclear and missile programmes, and would clamp down on the impoverished country's imports of luxury goods such as yachts and jewellery.

Some nations are taking additional, unilateral measures, including Australia, which is refusing to let North Korea reopen its embassy there.

Meanwhile, North Korean troops are preparing for major exercise manoeuvres there, days after it threatened to rip up the Korean War armistice signed 60 years ago.

Photo by "AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS"