The Washington Times: Pyongyang claims right to attack U.S.
North Korea said yesterday it reserves the right to make a "pre-emptive" attack on U.S. and South Korean targets, a chilling reminder of threats by Pyongyang a decade ago to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire."
North Korea, which says it has nuclear weapons, also called the annual U.S.-South Korea "Ulchi Focus Lens" exercise "an undisguised military threat" and a "war action."
In a statement carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean military said it "reserves the right to undertake a pre-emptive action for self-defense against the enemy at a crucial time it deems necessary to defend itself."
North Korea is known for its rhetorical blasts. The most notable came during a 1994 crisis over North Korean attempts to make nuclear bombs, in which a senior official threatened to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire."
The U.S.-South Korean war games began Monday.
United States Forces Korea says the exercise is a "command-post exercise," using computer simulation as well as troops on the ground. It involves 17,000 personnel.
The operational "Team Spirit" joint exercise, which fielded 200,000 troops, was last held in 1993.
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