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North Korea Nuclear Update: 'Merciless Offensive' if Provoked

by Tina Kells | June 9, 2009 at 03:30 pm

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A frightening update in the North Korean nuclear weapons build up; North Korea has vowed to launch a "merciless offensive" if it feels provoked by other nations. The nuclear threat from North Korea appears to be directed at nations like China, the United States, and South Korea.

North Korea said Tuesday it would use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked, in its latest bellicose rhetoric apparently aimed at deterring any international punishment for its recent atomic test blast.

It appeared to be the first time that North Korea referred to its nuclear arsenal as "offensive" in nature. Pyongyang has long claimed that its nuclear weapons program is only for self-defense against what it calls U.S. attempts to invade it.

"Our nuclear deterrent will be a strong defensive means ... as well as a merciless offensive means to deal a just retaliatory strike to those who touch the country's dignity and sovereignty even a bit," Pyongyang's state-run Minju Joson newspaper said in a commentary, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea often refers to its atomic arsenal as a nuclear deterrent.

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Paschen

at 17:34 on June 9th, 2009

It may be time to call the bluff and give China carte blanche to move in.

Pythiian1

at 19:50 on June 9th, 2009

On a separate issue, but related North Korean's actions to further ratchet up tensions in the water as well:

North Korean vessels last week intruded into the South's territorial waters, retreating after warning maneuvers by South Korean navy. The area off the west coast of the peninsula has been the site of two deadly naval battles between the rival states over the past 10 years.