Report: North Korea Threatens ‘Pre-Emptive Nuclear Attack’ - World News
North Korea threatened to exercise its “right to pre-emptive nuclear attack” Thursday as Pyongyang ratcheted up its rhetoric ahead of a United Nations vote on new sanctions.
“Since the United States is about to ignite a nuclear war, we will be exercising our right to pre-emptive nuclear attack against the headquarters of the aggressor in order to protect our supreme interest,” the North’s foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. NBC News could not immediately confirm the statement. However, the remarks were also reported by media outlets including The Associated Press.
On Wednesday, the South Korean military said it would strike back at North Korea and target its top leadership if Pyongyang attacks.
Tensions have ratcheted higher across the Korean Peninsula since the North, under youthful leader Kim Jong Un who took office just over a year ago after the death of his father, launched a long-range rocket last December.
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