According to the Korean central news agency, the Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army says the High Command has approved the decision to launch "merciless" military strikes on the United States. “North Korea has never been put into the threat of war like this before” said the announcement. It indicated that North Korea’s people and army are doing their best to defend their national territory and prevent a nuclear war. Meanwhile, in Washington, Chuck Hagel, the US Secretary of Defense, called North Korea’s recent threats “clear and obvious threat” to the US, Japan, and South Korea. The US Defense Department said the US will deploy interceptor missiles to protect its military base on Guam Island where it has six thousand US soldiers and a fleet of submarines and aircraft.

Kim Jong Un discussed nuclear strike against US with other authorities on March 29. Photo: Xinhua

South Korea urged North Korea to maintain the normal routine for South Korean workers at the shared Kaesong industrial complex in a border area. At a press conference in Seoul, Kim Hyung-seok, spokesperson for the Korean Unification Ministry, said a travel blockade is hindering the industrial complex’s activities. Seoul said it is extremely sorry for Pyongyang’s decision and called on Pyongyang to immediately remove the blockade.