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Image made from video shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. AP Photo/KRT via AP Video

'Combat-ready' North Korea threatens Hawaii, US mainland

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has launched a fresh threat to strike targets on the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam, as well as South Korea.

NORTH KOREA’S MILITARY put its “strategic” rocket units on a war footing today, with a fresh threat to strike targets on the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam, as well as South Korea.

The move came as South Korea marked the third anniversary of the sinking of its naval vessel “Cheonan” by what Seoul insists was a North Korean submarine.

“All artillery troops including strategic rocket units and long-range artillery units are to be placed under class-A combat readiness,” the Korean People’s Army (KPA) supreme command said in a statement.

The units should be prepared to attack “all US military bases in the Asia-Pacific region, including the US mainland, Hawaii and Guam” and South Korea, said the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Inter-continental ballistic missile

Despite a successful long-range rocket launch in December, most experts believe North Korea is years from developing a genuine inter-continental ballistic missile that could strike the mainland United States.

Hawaii and Guam would also be outside the range of its medium-range missiles, which would be capable, however, of striking US bases in South Korea and Japan.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has spent the past few weeks touring frontline military units, monitoring live fire artillery drills and making inflammatory speeches about wiping out the enemy.

Sabre-rattling and displays of brinkmanship are nothing new in the region, but there are concerns that the current situation is so volatile that one accidental step could escalate into serious conflict.

Addressing a ceremony for the 46 sailors who died in the 2010 “Cheonan” incident, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye warned Pyongyang that its only “path to survival” lay in abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.

The North has always denied sinking the Cheonan, but a few months later it launched an artillery attack on a South Korean border island, killing four people.

China urges calm

North Korea’s patron and sole major ally China was quick to urge calm from all sides Tuesday.

“We hope that relevant parties will exercise restraint so as to ease the tension,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Military tensions on the Korean peninsula have been at an elevated level for months, following December’s rocket launch and the North’s third nuclear test which it carried out last month.

Both events triggered UN sanctions that infuriated the North, which has spent the past month issuing increasingly threatening statements about unleashing an “all-out war” backed by nuclear weapons.

It was particularly incensed that nuclear-capable US B-52 bombers flying out of Andersen Air base on Guam took part in recent joint South Korea-US military exercises.

“We will demonstrate the firm resolution of our people and military to protect our sovereignty and dignity through real military action,” the KPA statement warned.

The latest threat came days after the South Korean and US militaries signed a new pact, envisaging a joint military response to even low-level provocation by North Korea.

While existing agreements provide for US engagement in the event of a full-scale conflict, the new protocol addresses the response to a limited provocation such as an isolated incident of cross-border shelling.

It guarantees US support for any South Korean retaliation and allows Seoul to request any additional US military force it deems necessary.

In an open letter to troops published to mark the Cheonan anniversary, South Korea’s hawkish defence minister, Kim Kwan-Jin, said there was a “high possibility” the North’s threats might be translated into action.

He also reiterated that South Korea’s response to any provocation would not only target the origin of the attack, “but also its supporting and commanding forces”.

Late last year, South Korea deployed cruise missiles it said were capable of carrying out high-precision strikes on targets anywhere in North Korea.

- © AFP, 2013

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    Mute Jimmy Coltrane
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    Jul 17th 2018, 9:02 PM

    Kerrie,listening to your story has brought me to tears, I feel such admiration for your courage in the manner in which you live your life now, your resolve.
    Sincerely wishng you all the best for your future and hope you find all the happiness in life you deserve.
    Thank you or sharing.

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    Mute Bernadette OConnor
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    Jul 17th 2018, 9:28 PM

    Hi Kerrie. You have blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Delighted to see you after such a long time and am delighted to say I knew you when you were a young girl. You are an inspiration and I always told your Mam and dad that you were a very special person. Seeing you now on screen confirms what I always believed. Keep the heart up. You ARE a wonderful person. The world is your oyster. xx Bernie

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    Mute Ken Hayden
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    Jul 17th 2018, 9:01 PM

    What a tragic series of events . All the best to you Kerrie .

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    Mute Eric Cray
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    Jul 17th 2018, 10:05 PM

    Wow what an amazing person to go true all that and still gives back to kids and adults in archery,and still competes in the highest levels is amazing, if only we look at what we take for granted and see what Kerry does is truly amazing, young lady you are truly amazingly special and kind

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