North Korea Threatens ‘Horrible Disaster,’ Puts Army On Alert

North Korea threatened the United States with a “horrible disaster” on Tuesday, adding that its military was placed on high alert and told to be ready to launch operations.

The latest rhetoric from North Korea comes after weeks of threats against the United States and South Korea. Hostile threats from the reclusive nation aren’t unusual, especially aimed at the two nations it considers enemies.

This time, a North Korean official warned the US of “disastrous consequences” for moving several ships, including an aircraft carrier, into a port in South Korea, notes Reuters.

In a statement carried by the North’s KCNA news agency, the spokesman added, “The US will be wholly accountable for the unexpected horrible disaster to be met by its imperialist aggression forces’ nuclear strike means.”

US State Department Spokesman Jen Psaki brushed off North Korea’s warning, explaining, “Such comments from North Korea will do nothing to end [its] isolation or reduce the costs [it] pays for defying the international community.”

The Telegraph notes that the US military ships entered South Korean waters for upcoming naval drills, which could be delayed because of an approaching typhoon. A spokesman for the US-South Korea Combined Forces Command explained, “The joint exercises will be conducted this week as planned.”

North Korea’s threats of a horrible disaster come a week after South Korea and the United States signed a joint strategy in response to reports that the North restarted an aging plutonium nuclear reactor. The strategy involves countering threats to a nuclear attack.

Experts believe that the regime has enough fissile material to build 10 nuclear bombs, though it’s doubtful the North has the technology to deploy such a weapon.

South Korea also responded to the threats from its northern neighbor, saying that any criticism by the North for its upcoming maritime search and rescue exercise is “wrong.”

[Image via Gordeev20 / Shutterstock.com]