North Korea Threatens Pre-Emptive Strikes against South Korea and US

North Korea has threatened to launch strikes against its enemy South Korea and the US, to pre-empt an attack by the two countries on its nuclear facilities.

The threat follows an agreement between Seoul and Washington over the introduction of nuclear deterrents against Pyongyang.

Under the US-South Korea agreement, the two countries vowed to attack North Korea if there are indications it will use its nuclear weapons. The strategy is being dubbed as "customised deterrence".

North Korea has denounced the agreement and said it will not hesitate to attack US and South Korean interests if they resort to "such military provocations".

The North Korean spokesperson added: "If our enemies try to threaten us in the slightest, the country will launch ruthless pre-emptive strikes of annihilation."

Meanwhile a statement from the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK), carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), claimed that "the military plot aims to derail the ongoing peace process and dialogue on the Korean Peninsula and can fuel tensions that can lead to a nuclear conflict."

North Korea has also condemned a large military parade held by South Korea to showcase its latest missiles and torpedoes, marking the 65<sup>thanniversary of the country's armed forces.

The US is due to hold a joint naval exercise with Japan and South Korea. However officials in Seoul claim the programme "is a humanitarian training exercise to search and rescue private ships that meet with a disaster."