Days after US President Barack Obama advised the media that America was prepared for anything that Pyongyang could throw at it comes war talk from the government of North Korea.
“North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map as Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of missiles in the coming days.
“Off China’s coast, a US destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Myanmar in what could be the first test of UN sanctions passed to punish the nation for an underground nuclear test last month.
“The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago with the USS John S McCain close behind. The ship, accused of transporting banned goods in the past, is believed bound for Myanmar, according to South Korean and US officials.
“The new UN Security Council resolution requires member states to seek permission to inspect suspicious cargo. North Korea has said it would consider interception a declaration of war and on Wednesday accused the US of seeking to provoke another Korean War.” (News Yahoo)
These threats are the culmination of the rise in tension between North Korea and the US which began after the communist regime began missile testing in April and May of this year.
The Korean war of 1950 was not resolved through the surrender of either party to the conflict and in 1953 an uneasy truce brought fighting to an end.
This has led to sporadic tensions between the North and South with a material build up of forces along the Demilitarised Zone on the 38th parallel.
The bellicose rhetoric taking place right now supersedes anything that has come before it and there is every possibility of a substantial attack over the next few weeks.
Whatever form this attack might take expect the US to meet it with overwhelming force.