North Korea issues new threat against US bases in Japan, Guam

North Korea has again threatened to attack US interests, saying that US bases in Japan and Guam will be targeted if Washington flies nuclear-capable bombers over the Korean Peninsula.

“The US should not forget that the Anderson Air Force Base on Guam where the B-52s take off and naval bases in Japan proper and Okinawa where nuclear-powered submarines are launched are within the striking range of the DPRK’s precision strike means,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited an unnamed North Korean army spokesman as saying on Thursday.

North Korea vows a strong military counteraction should the strategic bombers make such a sortie to the peninsula again, the spokesman said, adding, “If the enemy threatens us with nuclear weapons, we will respond with stronger nuclear attacks.”

The comments came a day after Pyongyang denounced the joint US-South Korea military exercises and said the drills were an “unpardonable provocation” and rehearsals for invasion.

“We cannot tolerate the US carrying out nuclear strike drills, setting us as targets, and advertising them as strong warning messages,” said the North Korean army spokesman.

The Pentagon has said at least one B-52 bomber had flown over South Korea during the recent joint US-South Korea military exercises. It added that it has publicized its flight to underline US alliance with its South Korean ally.

Seoul and Washington launched the week-long annual joint military exercises on March 11 near the Korean Peninsula despite warnings from Pyongyang. The drills involved 10,000 South Korean soldiers and about 3,000 US troops.

North Korea, however, condemned the maneuvers as a launch pad for a “nuclear war.” Pyongyang cut off its communication hotline with Seoul as the drills kicked off, while announcing that it had scrapped the 1953 armistice and peace pacts signed with Seoul in protest at the maneuvers.