S. Korean president's residence will be first target for N. Korean armed forces in event of aggression - N. Korea statement
MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - North Korea says it is ready to deliver preventive strikes on South Korea and the U.S,. if South Korea and the U.S. carry out "an operation to eliminate the administration" of North Korea, during the military training scheduled to be conducted in the region in March.
"From now on, if the enemy's special units and operative weapons used for 'an operation to eliminate the administration' and 'a gripping strike' demonstrate even the slightest action, all powerful strategic and tactical systems of our armed forces will deliver preventive strikes for their preventive and consistent neutralization," the North Korean Supreme Command said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Wednesday.
"The first target will be Cheong Wa Dae [official residence of the South Korean president] and the administration of South Korea, where plots for confrontation with their nation are being made," the statement says.
"The second target will be the American bases in Asia, and the Pacific, and the continental part of the U.S.," it says.
"North Korea has powerful and ultra-modern attack weapons that the world has never seen yet, that are capable of hitting any area of the U.S. at any time,' the North Korean Supreme Command says.
"The operation to eliminate the administration, and the attempts to overthrow our political system in this manner, is the most malevolent hostile action," the statement says.
The South Korean media reported on Wednesday, that the U.S. had sent four F-22 fighter planes, and the nuclear submarine North Carolina, to participate in a joint training in the coast of South Korea.
The trainings Key Resolve and Foal Eagle will last from March 7 through April 30. It will involve up to 15,000 U.S. troops and up to 290,000 South Korean military, the South Korean media have reported
