SEOUL/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - South Korea's military said it will strike back at North Korea and target its top leadership if Pyongyang launches a threatened attack in response to what it says are "hostile" drills between U.S. and South Korean forces.
One of North Korea's top generals, in a rare appearance on state television on Tuesday, said Pyongyang had torn up its armistice deal with Washington and threatened military action against the U.S. and South Korea if the drills continued. The military exercises began on March 1 and run until April 30.
* North Korea is gearing up to expand its own military drills and may be preparing to test-fire short-to-medium-range missiles by banning flights and sailing off its coast, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, quoting South Korean government sources.
The South's Defense Ministry and office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could not confirm that report, but South Korean officials have said the North is conducting military exercises that appear to be larger in scale than in previous years.
韩国防务办公室还不能确认这份报告,但是韩国官员称,朝鲜正在进行的演习要比往年演习的规模更大。
Tensions have ratcheted higher across the Korean peninsula since the North, under youthful leader Kim Jong-un who took office just over a year ago after the death of his father, launched a long-range rocket in December.
He followed this with a third nuclear test on February 12, triggering the prospect of more U.N. sanctions that are due to be formally announced on Thursday after the United States and China, the North's one major diplomatic ally, struck a deal to punish Pyongyang.
At the same time, North Korea has stepped up its military threats against South Korea and the United States, prompting the terse warning from Seoul on Wednesday that it would not stand idly by if its territory was attacked.
"We have all preparations in place for strong and decisive punishment, not only against the source of the aggression and its support forces but also the commanding element," Major General Kim Yong-hyun of the South Korean army told a news conference in one of the clearest threats Seoul has made.
North Korea's bellicose rhetoric rarely goes beyond just that, although in 2010 it was widely accused of sinking a South Korean naval vessel, killing 46 sailors, and in the same year shelled a South Korean island, killing two civilians.
Stung by criticism it took too long to respond to the island shelling, South Korea's military has relaxed its rules, allowing commanders on the ground to respond to aggression instead of needing permission from top military brass.
South Korea's new President Park Geun-hye had pledged to engage the North if it dropped its nuclear plans but now faces the prospect of a hostile challenge early in her five-year term.
Japan's Kyodo news agency said some people in the North's capital, Pyongyang, were covering up buses and other larger vehicles with camouflage nets in what it said was a possible preparation for war.
Al An Genelyn • 13 mins ago Report Abuse
world war 3 is about to begin
第三次世界大战即将开始
(re Al An Genelyn)Kman 5421 • 9 mins ago Report Abuse
It already is.
(回Al An Genelyn)已经开始了
Ehrin K • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
We should arm S. Korea to the max. End of problem.
我们应该尽我们所能武装韩国人,问题就解决了。
(re Ehrin K)Niklas Knipschild • 4 hrs ago Report Abuse
SK is pretty well armed.
(回Ehrin K)韩国已经武装得很好了
(re Ehrin K)William • 4 hrs ago Report Abuse
The SK is probably one of the most well equipped nations in Asia. North Korea is armed mostly with outdated Chinese and Soviet equipment. I think we know who'd win.
(re Ehrin K)Nicholas • 4 hrs ago Report Abuse
We already did arm South Korea. We provided them weapons, munitions, training, and went so far as to station upwards of 50,000 troops there. I think that, if they had to, South Korea would be able to take care of North Korea by itself. But to expediate the process, we would help.
General Zod • 11 mins ago Report Abuse
nuke the whole damn country
用核武器攻击这个该死的国家
D a n • 4 hrs ago Report Abuse
South Korea's military said it will strike back at North Korea and target its top leadership if Pyongyang launches a threatened attack in response to what it says are "hostile" drills between U.S. and South Korean forces.
I gues North Korea forgot how bad they got tromped the last time.
(re D a n)Kyle • 3 hrs ago Report Abuse
^ Because of China. I doubt China would be so happy to get involved the next time it happens.
(回D a n)因为中国,我怀疑中国很乐意加入到下次的朝鲜战争中去
The Dude • 35 mins ago Report Abuse
If the Koreas do go to war the best the thing the U.S. could do would be to step back and let them finish this once and for all. If the North wins, so what? Even the Chinese don't like North Korea, they simply tolerate them.
(re The Dude)C • 29 mins ago Report Abuse
How ignorant are you? We have allies in strategic places around the world for REASONS...which do NOT include abandoning them just because it is convenient to do so.
Cu L • 7 mins ago Report Abuse
Time to carpet bomb them, its great how small the country is because it will just be that much easier.
是时候进行地毯式轰炸了,一个国家小就是好,轰炸起来简单多了
Easy Now • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
It appears many want the USA in another war.
看起来很多人想要美国卷入另一场战争。
(re Easy Now )Allen G • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
it will help the economy and the budget
(回Easy Now)这能够帮助美国经济和预算的
(re Easy Now)Thomas M • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
The Korean War did not end. There was an agreement to cease fire only, no winner no loser no surrenders. NK is really China's problem, but they are a menace to all their neighbors. I am not in favor of another war, but if they reach out and touch us, we flatten them.
Gracie • 2 hrs 45 mins ago Report Abuse
North Korea will strike South Korea,with total destruction of South Korea and the people who live in that country,a welcome event for some countries such as China and Russia,it will bring in a new era of power and understanding of who is the rightful owners of all of Korea.
A Yahoo! User • 13 mins ago Report Abuse
It's about time. The suspense was killing me. So much for sanctions. I am honestly beginning to believe that fat boy really does want to get into a fist fight.
Rick saint • 23 mins ago Report Abuse
Bring on World War III, I'm ready!
第三次世界大战开始吧,我准备好了!
Jim • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
He followed this with a third nuclear test on February 12, triggering the prospect of more U.N. sanctions that are due to be formally announced on Thursday after the United States and China, the North's one major diplomatic ally, struck a deal to punish Pyongyang.
So the sanctions that we impose has no real threat to the Norths economy.
The Old Red Neck • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
I believe that china should handle this
我觉得中国应该处理这个问题
Truth seeker • 1 hr 42 mins ago Report Abuse
If they attack south korea the north will be a distant memory. Maybe dennis rodman should move there. I don't know what a baby they made would look like though.
(re Truth seeker)Mickey • 1 hr 18 mins ago Report Abuse
Better looking than you.
(回Truth seeker)比你好看
FIGHTER FOR DEMOCRACY • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
Strike and punish north korea.
don't be coward south
攻击惩罚朝鲜吧
韩国不要太胆怯了
FEEDBACK • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
US will now make arrangements for a fake attack on SK and blame it on NK
美国会对韩国制造假攻击,然后责怪于朝鲜
Gent J • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
We may actually see the Chinese Army invade North Korea and eliminate Kim if he starts a war.
如果金正恩开启战争,我们会看到中国军队入侵朝鲜把他们消灭的。
Robert Frederick • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
the north has no chance if another war breaks out.
如果战争爆发,朝鲜根本没机会赢
Joshua Bokelman • 5 hrs ago Report Abuse
so will this be the start of world war 3?
所以这会是三战的开始吗?
Fed up with I tall • 8 mins ago Report Abuse
I am trying to figure out how much torture the North Korean people can and will take until they have had enough and fight back.
我想知道朝鲜人能够承受多少的折磨才会反击抵抗呢
为什么我感觉是朝鲜更强一点呢 ?!
网友评论(265711)2013-03-08 23:31
Gent J • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
We may actually see the Chinese Army invade North Korea and eliminate Kim if he starts a war.
如果金正恩开启战争,我们会看到中国军队入侵朝鲜把他们消灭的。
网友评论(437276)2013-03-08 23:38
Gent J • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
We may actually see the Chinese Army invade North Korea and eliminate Kim if he starts a war.
如果金正恩开启战争,我们会看到中国军队入侵朝鲜把他们消灭的。
+1
网友评论(17850354)2013-03-08 23:39
搬个板凳看戏。
----sent from my YuLong 5860,Android 2.3.5
网友评论(12802657)2013-03-08 23:40
前排出售瓜子汽水 各种夜宵.....
网友评论(326617)2013-03-08 23:41
Reply Post by 雨中的风筝 (2013-03-08 23:38):
Gent J • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
We may actually see the Chinese Army invade North Korea and eliminate Kim if he starts a war.
如果金正恩开启战争,我们会看到中国军队入侵朝鲜把他们消灭的。
如果中国国力再发展20年,那这个结果针不错
网友评论(18710421)2013-03-08 23:44
Gent J • 6 hrs ago Report Abuse
We may actually see the Chinese Army invade North Korea and eliminate Kim if he starts a war.
如果金正恩开启战争,我们会看到中国军队入侵朝鲜把他们消灭的。