Kim Jong-un during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea, last month (Rex)
North Korea has accused the CIA of trying to assassinate Kim Jong-un
The hermit nation made the astonishing claim today that a ‘terrorist group’ backed by the CIA and South Korea managed to cross the border and attempted to kill the dictator.
The regime has threatened a counter-attack, claiming they would ‘mercilessly destroy’ the so-called terrorists, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap News.
North Korea claimed that ‘radioactive substance and nano poisonous substances’ were used in the attempt on the life of their leader.
In an announcement published by the country’s state media, the country’s security ministry said: ‘We will ferret out and mercilessly destroy to the last one the terrorists of the U.S. CIA.
‘A Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique.’
Neither South Korea or the CIA has yet responded to the accusation, which comes as tensions on the Korean peninsula reach boiling point, with Kim Jong-un reported to be on the verge of launching military strikes against South Korea.
The North Korean leader has been pictured inspecting military detachments on the islets of Jangje and Mu, which are close to the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.
The state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced today that Kim ‘acquainted and examined the plan for fire strike of the newly organised forces at the objects of the enemy’.
KCNA said Kim viewed Yeonpyeong from an observation post on Jangje Islet, before calling for combat readiness from North Korea.
A source within the South Korean military said Kim paid his visit to the islets – both of which are well-stocked with rocket launchers and other artillery – yesterday on a small vessel.
It is the military unit on Mu that was responsible for the shelling of Yeonpyeong in 2010, which killed four people.
South Korea is similarly focused, however. According to Yonhap News Agency, a South Korean Marine Corps commander inspected front-line troops close to the Western maritime border on Thursday.
He said that any provocations by North Korea will be retaliated against.
Soldiers in tanks taking part in a military parade in Pyongyang in April (Rex)
Meanwhile, tensions between North Korea and the U.S. continue to escalate; the U.S. House of Representatives voted by 419-1 yesterday to approve legislation to tighten sanctions on North Korea.
It’s hoped that this will be achieved by targeting its shipping industry and the companies that it does business with.
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce said: ‘Real threats demand real responses. This Bill gives the administration a powerful tool to cut off North Korea’s funding by going after those who do business with the regime.’
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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/north-korea-considering-plans-strike-south-korea-102652404.html