"Since the United States is about to ignite a nuclear war, wewill be exercising our right to a preemptive nuclear attack againstthe headquarters of the aggressor in order to protect our supremeinterest," said the statement carried by the official KCNA newsagency.
The reclusive state has ramped up its military rhetoric afterconducting its third nuclear test last month, threatening to useevery means, including the nuclear arsenal, against anyaggression.
Lately Pyongyang accused Washington and Seoul of preparing anattack on North Korea under the guise of a joint militaryexercise.
As the annual two-month drill goes on, North Korea has imposedno-fly and no-sail zones off both its coasts, a move indicatingthat it plans to hold its own war games, South Korea’s governmentalsources said.
Military experts say North Korea is years away from developing along-range missile and a nuclear warhead to attack mainland US.
The war of words continues as the UN Security Council mulls overa new round of sanctions against Pyongyang, which are meant to be aresponse to the February nuclear test.
All permanent members of the UNSC condemned the test,including North Korea’s reluctant ally China, which indicates thesanction-imposing resolution is likely to be adopted.
The new measures are expected to include mandatory inspectionsof cargoes going in or out of North Korea, additional restraints onluxury trade and freeze of assets of two organizations related tothe nuclear test.