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Agencies

North Korea’s vice foreign minister has blamed US President Donald Trump for building up a “vicious cycle” of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, saying that his “aggressive” tweets were “making trouble”.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press in Pyongyang, Vice Minister Han Song-ryol also warned the US against provoking North Korea militarily, saying: “We will go to war if they choose”.
“If the US comes with reckless military maneuvers then we will confront it with the DPRK’s pre-emptive strike,” Han said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“We’ve got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike.”
Watch: North Korean official blames US for tensions


The comments come as a White House foreign policy advisor confirmed Friday the United States was assessing military options in response to North Korea’s weapons programmes.
As speculation mounted that Pyongyang was preparing a new nuclear test or fire a missile on a major anniversary Saturday, the official said the United States was poised to deal with the security threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
“Military options are already being assessed,” the adviser said on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic, describing a fresh test as “possible”.
There are reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturday’s 105th anniversary of the birth of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung.

“That is something that our headquarters decides,” Han said of what would be North Korea’s sixth nuclear test. “At a time and at a place where the headquarters deems necessary, it will take place.”
Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland on Trump’s watch as president — within the next few years.
Han, however, said North Korea blames Trump and the US for the rising tensions. He cited not only the US-South Korean wargames and the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, but also a tweet Trump posted Tuesday in which he said the North is “looking for trouble.”



Trump also tweeted that if China doesn’t do its part to rein in Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, the US can handle it.
“Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words,” Han said.
“So that’s why. It’s not the DPRK but the US and Trump that makes trouble.”
Trump has demonstrated a willingness to take bold military action in recent days. Last week, Trump authorised missile strikes against Syria for a chemical weapons attack on civilians. On Thursday, the US dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb - a Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) - on Islamic State positions in Afghanistan, a move the Trump administration said was aimed at denying the group’s freedom of movement. It was the first time the weapon had been used in combat.

“I don’t know if this sends a message,” Trump said when asked if the bomb serves as a warning to North Korea.
“It doesn’t make any difference if it does or not. North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of.”
The annual military exercises on the Korean peninsula have consistently infuriated the North, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion. Washington and Seoul deny that, but reports that exercises have included “decapitation strikes” aimed at the North’s leadership have fanned Pyongyang’s anger.

“As long as the nuclear threats and blackmail go on with the military exercises, we will carry forward with our national defence buildup, the core of which is the nuclear arms buildup,” Han said.
“Whatever comes from the US, we will cope with it. We are fully prepared to handle it.”
Outwardly, there are few signs of concern in North Korea despite the political back and forth. Instead, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year, the 105th anniversary of the birth of the late Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder and leader Kim Jong-un’s grandfather.
The Saturday anniversary may provide the world with a look at some of that arsenal. Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.
Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg


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What’s behind sudden thaw as North, South Korea exchange warm words?

North Korea nuclear crisis

North Korea warns ‘will go to war’ as US assesses military options to nuclear threat

North Korean special forces troops conduct drills as tensions soar with Washington over Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Photo: AFP

In this undated photo distributed on Friday, April 14, 2017, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, watches a military drill at an undisclosed location. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this photo, distributed via the Korean Central News Agency and the Korea News Service. Tensions are deepening as the U.S. has sent the USS Carl Vinson to waters off the Korean peninsula and is conducting its biggest-ever joint military exercises with South Korea. North Korea recently launched a ballistic missile and some experts say it could conduct another nuclear test at virtually anytime. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The GBU-43/B, also known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, is launched successfully from a MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft during a test at Elgin Air Force Base, Florida, U.S., November 21, 2003 in this handout photo provided April 13, 2017. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force photo/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

This handout picture obtained on April 13, 2017 from French space agency Centre national d'etudes spatiales (CNE - National Centre for Space Studies), Airbus Defense and Space and the 38 North analysis group, shows a satellite image taken on April 12, 2017 of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, with probable tarp-covered pallets and personnel in the Main Administrative Area. North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported on April 12, 2017. "Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site’s Command Center," the North Korea-related analysis website said. / AFP PHOTO / CNES AND Airbus Defense & Space and 38 North / HO / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / CNES / Airbus Defense and Space / 38 North" - NO MARKETING

Was massive US bomb dropped on Afghanistan the mother of all warnings to North Korea?

A file image dated March 11, 2003, shows a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb moments before impact in an undisclosed location. Photo: AFP

FILE PHOTO - A Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) weapon is prepared for testing at the Eglin Air Force Armament Center March 11, 2003. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

(FILES) A video grab from 2003 color file footage courtesy the US Air Force (USAF) shows a mushroom cloud created by a GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb prototype moments after impact at a test site at Eglin Air Force Base, in Florida. The US military on April 13, 2017 dropped what is considered to be the largest non-nuclear bomb on an Islamic State complex in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said. The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb hit a "tunnel complex" in Achin district in Nangarhar province, US Forces Afghanistan said in a statement. / AFP PHOTO / US AIR FORCE / Handout / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US AIR FORCE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS == NO ARCHIVE

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