North Korea issues chilling WW3 threat: ‘We will make the US bitterly regret its strategy’

A foreign ministry spokesman for Kim Jong-un claimed that the Trump administration’s ”arrogant” National Security Strategy report was “nothing but the proclamation of aggression aimed at holding sway over the world”.

The spokesman added: “The international society should remain vigilant against the manoeuvres of the gang of Trump to invade and control the DPRK by igniting a nuclear war at any cost in the Korean peninsula.

“And see through the ulterior motive behind the US’ repeated talk of dialogue, designed to cover up its evil intention and mock the world.

“As the US set its diplomatic and security policy at crushing us militarily and is publicly aiming a sword at us, we will make the US bitterly regret its strategy with our cannons.”

North Korea's Kim Jong-un and USA's TrumpGETTY

North Korea has warned the US will bitterly regret its ‘invasion’ strategy

On Monday the Trump administration unveiled its National Security Strategy which detailed the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear missile programme to the US.

The report said: “North Korea is ruled as a ruthless dictatorship without regard for human dignity. For more than 25 years, it has pursued nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of every commitment it has made. 

“Today, these missiles and weapons threaten the United States and our allies. The longer we ignore threats from countries determined to proliferate and develop weapons of mass destruction, the worse such threats become, and the fewer defensive options we have.”

In a foreword written by the US President, Donald Trump added: “We are rallying the world against the rogue regime in North Korea.”

Following the report’s release, Pyongyang on Friday hit back claiming “peace and stability on the Korean peninsula” had been jeopardised by previous US administrations throwing out all agreements.

The official said: “Out of our will to safeguard the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and put an end to the nuclear threat and blackmail and the hostile policy of the US, we held bilateral talks with the U.S. and various forms of multilateral talks such as the Four Party Talks and the Six Party Talks over the last two decades and during the course we had reached some agreements.

However, the previous US administrations threw all the agreements reached with us into a garbage can like waste paper under the absurd assumption that the DPRK would ‘collapse’… even branding it as a ‘rogue state’, ‘axis of evil’, ‘outpost of tyranny’ and ‘target of preemptive nuclear strike’.

“We chose the road of possessing the nuclear weapons to defend our sovereignty and rights to existence and development in the face of ever increased hostile moves and nuclear threats and blackmail of the US.

“We are convinced that the only way to ensuring a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula is to have the deterrence that ensures a practical balance of force with the US.  

“The gang of Trump likes to pose itself as if its country is a world superpower. However, the US is nothing but a corpse going to the grave.”

Kim Jong-un watching a missile launchGETTY

The news comes amid fears Kim Jong-un could be plotting another missile launch soon

The news comes amid fears Kim Jong-un could be plotting another missile launch as tensions escalate with the US.

The despotic leader’s mouthpiece reported that Kim Jong-un had visited the active volcano Mt Paektu on Friday – a site which has repeatedly been used by North Korean leaders before making significant decisions.

The ‘ominous’ visit comes as satellites images reveal fresh activity at Kim Jong-un’s nuclear test site.

In November 2013, Kim visited the mountain with his aides a month before he executed top officials including Jang Song-thaek, his uncle, and political guardian.

Then in April 2015, he visited the volcano again just before executing Hyon Yong-chol, a former defence chief.

Kim has reportedly visited Mt Paektu five times during his six-year rule, but this is the first time he is making a visit in December – suggesting a potential Christmas or New Year’s Day launch.

Welcoming in the 2017 New Year on January 1, Kim Jong-un made a chilling announcement that North Korea was “close” to testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

North Korea has since test launched three ICBMs, the first was in July and the latest one Kim Jong-un claimed was capable of reaching “all the US mainland”.

A South Korea government insider warned: “Kim Jong-un is following in his father’s footsteps in visiting the mountain at times of important decisions regarding the state.

“Kim Jong-il did the same, he visited the mountain right before announcing in 1974 his list of 10 social decorum [which includes the commandment that the people remain completely loyal to the head of the state],” said a South Korean government insider.

“Kim Jong-il also visited the mountain just before executing Kim Tong-kyu, then-senior official for international affairs, in 1977.”