2010-07-26 21:44

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is to further bolster its nuclear deterrence to cope with increasing nuclear threat of the United States, a senior military official said Monday.

Strengthening the nuclear power is "a legitimate sovereign right of the DPRK and a mode of merciless counteraction" of Korean People's Army (KPA), the official news agency KCNA quoted KPA Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun as saying.

Kim, also vice-chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and minister of the People's Armed Forces, made the remarks in a report delivered at a national meeting held at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium marking the 57th anniversary of the victory in the Korean War.

He warned that if the United States and South Korea finally ignite a new war despite repeated warnings of the DPRK, it would "mobilize the tremendous military potential including its nuclear deterrence."

It will clearly show "what a real war will look like and completely eradicate the root cause of war," added Kim.

Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an Armistice Agreement instead of a formal peace treaty.

The United States and South Korea launched their large-scale war games in waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula on Sunday, a move feared to further complicate security situation in the region.