North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to 'flames and ash'
Pyongyang has issued its latest belligerent threat, warning of an indiscriminate 'preemptive
nuclear strike of justice'
North Korean TV says US will be 'held accountable for igniting war'
North Korea has threatened to turn Washington and Seoul into "flames and ashes", warning
of an indiscriminate "pre—emptive nuclear strike of justice" in reaction to the start of US—South
Korean military drills.
Such threats have been a staple of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong—un, since he took power after
nuclear strike of justice'
North Korean TV says US will be 'held accountable for igniting war'
North Korea has threatened to turn Washington and Seoul into "flames and ashes", warning
of an indiscriminate "pre—emptive nuclear strike of justice" in reaction to the start of US—South
Korean military drills.
Such threats have been a staple of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong—un, since he took power after
his father's death in December 2011 . But they tend to increase when Washington and
Seoul stage what they describe as annual defensive springtime war games.
North Korea steps up army recruitment ahead of
US military exercise
Pyongyang says the drills, which were set to start on Monday and run to the end of April, are
rehearsals for invading.
North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission threatened strikes against targets in
South Korea US bases in the Pacific and the US mainland, saying its enemies "are working
with bloodshot eyes to infringe upon the dignity, sovereignty and vital rights" of the country.
"If we push the buttons to annihilate the enemies even right now, all bases Of provocations will
be reduced to seas in flames and ashes in a moment," the statement said.
A pre—emptive, large—scale military strike that would end the authoritarian rule of the Kim
dynasty is highly unlikely.
There is also considerable outside debate about whether North Korea is even capable of the kind
of strikes it threatens. The country makes progress with each new nuclear test, having staged its
fourth in January but many experts say North Korea's arsenal may consist only of still—crude
nuclear bombs.
There is uncertainty as to whether it has mastered the miniaturisation process needed to mount
bombs on warheads and widespread doubt over whether the country has a reliable long—range
missile that could deliver such a bomb to the US mainland.
But North Korea's bellicose rhetoric raises unease in Seoul and the US, not least because of the
huge number of troops and weaponry facing off along the world's most heavily armed border,
which is an hour's drive from the South Korean capital of Seoul and its 10 million residents.
Korean animosity occasionally erupts in bloody skirmishes. Fifty South Koreans were killed in
attacks in 2010 that Seoul blames on North Korea, and there are always concerns about an
escalation of violence.
Relations between North Korea and Seoul and Washington have worsened since North Korea's
nuclear test in January and a long—range rocket test last month, which outsiders said was a test
Of banned ballistic missile technology.
The United Nations recently imposed strong new sanctions on North Korea, and South
Korea has said it will announce new unilateral sanctions on Tuesday.
Similar nuclear threats by North Korea were made in 201 3, around the time of the springtime
military drills, after it was sanctioned by the UN over a nuclear test and long-range rocket
launch.
South Korea's military said this year's war games will be the largest yet staged, involving
300,000 South Korean military personnel and 1 7,000 from the US. Analysts say one element
of North Korea's traditional anger over the drills is that they force the impoverished nation to
respond with its own costly war games.
Responding to North Korea's threat, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang
Gyun said it must refrain from a "rash act that brings destruction upon itselto.
Seoul stage what they describe as annual defensive springtime war games.
North Korea steps up army recruitment ahead of
US military exercise
Pyongyang says the drills, which were set to start on Monday and run to the end of April, are
rehearsals for invading.
North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission threatened strikes against targets in
South Korea US bases in the Pacific and the US mainland, saying its enemies "are working
with bloodshot eyes to infringe upon the dignity, sovereignty and vital rights" of the country.
"If we push the buttons to annihilate the enemies even right now, all bases Of provocations will
be reduced to seas in flames and ashes in a moment," the statement said.
A pre—emptive, large—scale military strike that would end the authoritarian rule of the Kim
dynasty is highly unlikely.
There is also considerable outside debate about whether North Korea is even capable of the kind
of strikes it threatens. The country makes progress with each new nuclear test, having staged its
fourth in January but many experts say North Korea's arsenal may consist only of still—crude
nuclear bombs.
There is uncertainty as to whether it has mastered the miniaturisation process needed to mount
bombs on warheads and widespread doubt over whether the country has a reliable long—range
missile that could deliver such a bomb to the US mainland.
But North Korea's bellicose rhetoric raises unease in Seoul and the US, not least because of the
huge number of troops and weaponry facing off along the world's most heavily armed border,
which is an hour's drive from the South Korean capital of Seoul and its 10 million residents.
Korean animosity occasionally erupts in bloody skirmishes. Fifty South Koreans were killed in
attacks in 2010 that Seoul blames on North Korea, and there are always concerns about an
escalation of violence.
Relations between North Korea and Seoul and Washington have worsened since North Korea's
nuclear test in January and a long—range rocket test last month, which outsiders said was a test
Of banned ballistic missile technology.
The United Nations recently imposed strong new sanctions on North Korea, and South
Korea has said it will announce new unilateral sanctions on Tuesday.
Similar nuclear threats by North Korea were made in 201 3, around the time of the springtime
military drills, after it was sanctioned by the UN over a nuclear test and long-range rocket
launch.
South Korea's military said this year's war games will be the largest yet staged, involving
300,000 South Korean military personnel and 1 7,000 from the US. Analysts say one element
of North Korea's traditional anger over the drills is that they force the impoverished nation to
respond with its own costly war games.
Responding to North Korea's threat, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang
Gyun said it must refrain from a "rash act that brings destruction upon itselto.
Response: This article talks
about more threats made by North Korea against South Korea and the US because
of military drills being held in South Korea. These military drills involve
300,000 South Korean military personnel and 17,000 US military personnel. This
article is clearly biased towards the US and South Korea in two distinct ways.
Firstly, the author of this article chooses to take the time to question the
validity of North Korea's "bellicose rhetoric" and the reality of
their "advanced nuclear weaponry". The author actually states,
"… many experts say North Korea's arsenal may consist only of still-crude
nuclear bombs." Beyond this, though, the author turns around and still
defends the US and South Korea for feeling uneasy by saying, "not lease
because of the huge number of troops and weaponry facing off along the world's
most heavily armed border, which is an hour's drive from the South Korean capital
of Seoul and its 10 million residents." The author first questions North
Korea's capabilities but then turns around, proving they are threat, as to
defend the actions of the US and South Korea.
Citation:
“North Korea threatens to reduce US and South Korea to ‘flames and ash’” 7
March 2016. Guardian News and Media
Limited. 8 March 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/07/north-korea-threatens-to-reduce-us-and-south-korea-to-flames-and-ash>
