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                North Korea Threatens Pre-emptive Nuclear Strike

   by Brian Padden

   North Korea has threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike as U.S. and
   South Korean forces began their largest joint exercises ever conducted.

   The annual joint drills often intensify tensions on the divided Korean
   peninsula, but this year the situation is particularly volatile, given
   tough new United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea for its
   recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

   The Philippines has already acted to enforce the sanctions when it
   impounded a cargo vessel linked to North Korea.

   Key Resolve and Foal Eagle

   This year's joint exercises, known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle,
   involve 17,000 American troops, four times more than participated last
   year, as well as 300,000 South Korean troops, and an array of U.S.
   aircraft and naval vessels, including the nuclear-powered submarine the
   USS North Carolina and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS
   John C. Stennis.

   North Korea's National Defense Commission Monday denounced the military
   exercises in a statement and said it was prepared for a "sacred war of
   justice for reunification."

   "As the joint military exercises to be staged by the enemies are
   regarded as the most undisguised nuclear war drills, aimed to infringe
   upon the sovereignty of [North Korea], its military counteraction will
   be more a preemptive and offensive nuclear strike to cope with them,"
   the statement said.

   While the U.S. and South Korea defend the annual joint drills as
   defensive in nature, this year the two allies will reportedly practice
   preemptive military strikes to take out North Korean targets.

   ''

   South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun called the North
   Korean preemptive strike threat "unacceptable."

   "If North Korea ignores our warnings and provokes, our military will
   firmly and mercilessly respond.  We warn North Korea that it must be
   responsible for all situations which lead to its reckless
   provocations," he said on Monday.

   No hotline

   North Korea's recent nuclear test and rocket launch has triggered
   retaliatory responses that increase the potential for inter-Korean
   conflict.

   The Seoul government closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) that
   it jointly operated with Pyongyang.

   North Korea then immediately deported all South Koreans who were
   working at the KIC and cut an emergency communication hotline put in
   place to defuse dangerous military situations.

   ''

   With U.S. and South Korean forces on high alert and with no working
   communication hotline, any perceived North Korean provocation could
   easily escalate.

   "If North Korea wants to take some kind of belligerent military action
   against the South and in some limited way, I think they are running a
   very high risk of facing some retaliation," said Northeast Asia
   security analyst Daniel Pinkston with Troy University in Seoul.

   Impounded cargo vessel

   The Philippines has become the first country to enforce the new United
   Nations sanctions on North Korea.

   The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday detained and searched the Jin
   Teng, a 4,355-ton cargo ship with a crew of 21 North Korean citizens.

   The vessel was carrying agricultural byproducts often used as livestock
   feed.

   The search revealed no illicit cargo related to North Korea's banned
   arms trade or nuclear program, only minor safety violations.

   ''

   However, the Jin Teng has been sanctioned by the U.N. as one of 31
   vessels owned by Pyongyang-based Ocean Maritime Management Co. (OMM)
   for past involvement in trading arms.

   In 2014, the OMM was banned by the U.N. when one of its ships was
   caught transporting jet fighters and other weapons from Cuba during an
   inspection in Panama.

   Philippine authorities impounded the vessel, are planning to deport the
   crew and have called in the United Nations to coordinate further
   actions to be taken.

   Manuel L. Quezon III, a member of President Benigno Aquino's
   communications team, told a government-run radio station Saturday that
   "as a member of the U.N., the Philippines has to do its part to enforce
   the sanctions."

   Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.
     __________________________________________________________________

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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-threatens-pre-emptive-nuclear-strike/3222625.html