North Korea warns of 'merciless' attacks
Communist nation rails against US-South Korea military exercises
SEOUL: North Korea warned the United States yesterday of "merciless" attacks if an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson, which is joining South Korean forces for exercises, infringes on its sovereignty or dignity.
North Korea, which has alarmed its neighbours with two nuclear tests and a string of missile launches since last year, said the arrival of the US strike group was part of a "reckless scheme" to attack it.
"If they infringe on the DPRK's sovereignty and dignity even a bit, its army will launch merciless ultra-precision strikes from ground, air, sea and underwater," the North's state news agency KCNA said.
North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"On March 11 alone, many enemy carrier-based aircraft flew along a course near territorial air and waters of the DPRK to stage drills of dropping bombs and making surprise attacks on the ground targets of their army," KCNA said.
A US Navy spokesman said the Carl Vinson was on a regular, scheduled deployment to the region, during which it would take part in exercises with the forces of ally South Korea.
Last week, North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan in response to annual US-South Korea military drills, which the North sees as preparation for war.
The murder in Malaysia last month of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother has added to a sense of urgency to efforts to handle North Korea.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to make his first visit to South Korea on Friday.
Last week, the US ambassador to the United Nations said President Donald Trump's administration was re-evaluating its North Korea strategy and "all options are on the table".
Compounding regional tension, China is vehemently opposed to the deployment in South Korea of an advanced US anti-missile system.
The US and South Korea say the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system is for defence against North Korea, but China fears its powerful radar can probe deep into its territory and compromise its security.
The US began to deploy the system a week ago, a day after North Korea launched its latest four missile tests.
South Korean and US troops began the joint drills, which are billed as defensive in nature, on March 1. - REUTERS
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