US: N. Korean Threat ‘Hypothetical’

The U.S. government calls North Korea’s statement that it would retaliate to a preemptive U.S. attack with a mighty nuclear deterrent, a “hypothetical situation.”

White House spokesman Tony Snow refused to respond to the North Korea’s Central News Agency broadcast claiming that North Korea would retaliate with a mighty nuclear deterrent. He said, “It is a statement about what may happen if something that hasn`t happened.”

US State Department spokesperson Julie Reside said in a daily briefing that the U.S. would react with appropriate measures if North Korea initiates aggression by launching a missile.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com