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Threats of a nuclear “sacred war” from North Korea

North Korea has previously secured pledges of food aid on the back of promises over its nuclear programme.

North Korea warns of ‘sacred’ nuclear war – The National,  Daniel Bardsley Dec 24, 2010, BEIJING  North Korea yesterday warned it was prepared to wage a nuclear “sacred war” on its southern neighbour, as Seoul held military exercises analysts said were designed more to impress the domestic audience than to frighten Pyongyang.The North Korean armed forces minister, Kim Yong-chun, reaffirmed Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities while reading a report at a meeting in the capital yesterday, and said the country could engage in conflict “at any time”……

His words came as South Korea staged war games about 20 kilometres from the border between the two countries, with 800 troops, tanks, fighter jets and rocket launchers involved. Fiery explosions lit up the mountainside training ground.

Officials described the live-fire drills as the country’s largest ever on land during the winter, as separate maritime military exercises begun earlier continued……

Before Mr Kim made his comments, tensions on the peninsula had appeared to calm, after Pyongyang failed to respond militarily to exercises staged on Monday by South Korea at Yeonpyeong island…….

North Korea has previously secured pledges of food aid on the back of promises over its nuclear programme. Six-party talks on the nuclear issue have been stalled since last year, although this week Pyongyang’s ally, China, repeated calls for them to restart.

Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and a former US ambassador to the United Nations, completed a visit to Pyongyang this week and said he had secured a promise from the communist regime for the International Atomic Energy Agency to return to the country, news greeted coolly by Washington……
Last month, the existence in North Korea of a uranium-enrichment facility, a potential source of material for nuclear weapons, was revealed by a US scientist.
North Korea warns of ‘sacred’ nuclear war – The National

December 24, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | North Korea, politics international