N.Korea reiterates ‘sea of flames’ threat vs. Seoul

North Korea reiterated its threat Sunday to turn Seoul into a “sea of flames” amid two joint South Korean-U.S. military exercises slated to begin Monday.

North Korean representatives at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom said in a statement carried by the North`s state-run Korean Central News Agency, “The joint military drills of Key Resolve and Foal Eagle are risky plots to wage regional war,” adding, “Our military and people will respond to reckless provocations with all-out war.”

“We’ll take merciless measures, such as one that will turn Seoul into a sea of flames, to crush all forms of confrontational attempts by mobilizing unimaginable strategies and tactics.”

“Launching a full-fledged offensive to destroy those who dare challenge us with the aim of toppling our regime by seeking sudden changes is totally justifiable,” the statement said, adding, “We will respond to the nuclear menace with nuclear deterrence and to the missile threat with missiles.”

Earlier in the day, the North said in a phone message sent by Pyongyang’s top negotiator to high-level inter-Korean military talks, “We officially notify that our military will directly fire at places where (anti-North Korea) psychological attacks originate, including Imjin Pavilion, under the principle of self-defense should South Korea continue psychological warfare.”

The 11-day drill Key Resolve will begin Monday throughout South Korea.

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