North Korean nuclear threats fuel regional tensions

North Korea says it has approved an offensive operation involving a nuclear strike.
It has also reportedly moved a mid-range missile into position for possible launch, at a site on its coast facing Japan.
There is no confirmation that the missile is carrying a warhead, but it is a further ratcheting-up of tensions in the region, from where Alastair Wanklyn reports.

listen to Alistair Wanklyn's report...

State television in North Korea said the military there was notifying Washington that commanders had approved plans for an unspecified operation involving a nuclear strike.

South Korea's defence minister said the North has moved a missile to a launch site in preparation for a possible test.

There was no word on which direction the rocket might fly in, but with an estimated range of 4,000 kilometres it could hit or fly over South Korea or Japan and reach the United States territory of Guam.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Defense Secretary said North Korea's threats present a real and clear danger.

Chuck Hagel said Washington would take the threats seriously. The United States is moving an anti-rocket defence system to Guam.

Earlier this week, the U.S. government said despite the rhetoric from Pyongang, it was seeing no large-scale mobilisation of forces in North Korea. But analysts say preparing a rocket for firing would be a new factor for the U.S. and nations in this region to consider.