North Korea Warns US of 'Merciless' Attacks


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - North Korea on Tuesday warned the US of "merciless" attacks if an aircraft carrier strike group joining South Korean forces for military exercises infringes on the north's "sovereignty or dignity."

"If they infringe on the DPRK's sovereignty and dignity even a bit, its army will launch merciless ultra-precision strikes from ground, air, sea and underwater," North Korean state news agency KCNA said, according to the Hill.

"On March 11 alone, many enemy carrier-based aircraft flew along a course near territorial air and waters of the DPRK to stage drills of dropping bombs and making surprise attacks on the ground targets of its army," it continued.

The threat comes amid increasingly aggressive weapons tests by the north. Last week, Pyongyang fired four missiles into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. That move followed another missile test while President Trump was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month in Palm Beach, Fla. North Korea also reportedly tested two nuclear weapons last year.

The US aircraft carrier strike group, led by the U.S.S. Carl Vinson, is on a regular deployment to the region.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson travelled to South Korea on Friday, his first such visit as the top US diplomat.