North Korea dismissed on Thursday warnings by U.S. President Donald Trump that it would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the United States as a "load of nonsense", and outlined detailed plans for a missile strike near the Pacific territory of Guam.
North Korea's apparently rapid progress in developing nuclear weapons and missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland has fuelled tensions that erupted into a war of words between Washington and Pyongyang this week, unnerving regional powers and global investors.
Trump's unexpected remarks prompted North Korea to say on Thursday it was finalising plans to fire four intermediate-range missiles over Japan to land 30-40 km (18-25 miles) from Guam, adding detail to a plan first announced on Wednesday.
Guam, more than 3,000 km (2,000 miles) to the southeast of North Korea, is home to about 163,000 people and a U.S. military base that includes a submarine squadron, an air base and a Coast Guard group.
"Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him," a report by the North's state-run KCNA news agency said of Trump.
The army will complete its plans in mid-August, ready for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's order, KCNA reported, citing General Kim Rak Gyom, commander of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army.
While North Korea regularly threatens to destroy the United States and its allies, the report was unusual in its detail.
Masao Okonogi, professor emeritus at Japan's Keio University, said before the latest KCNA report that Pyongyang may be issuing a warning or advance notice of changes to its missile testing programme rather than threatening an attack.
"I believe this is a message saying they plan to move missile tests from the Sea of Japan to areas around Guam," he told Reuters. "By making this advance notice, they are also sending a tacit message that what they are going to do is not a actual attack."
Japan could legally intercept a North Korean missile headed towards Guam if it posed an existential threat, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said on Thursday in remarks reported by Kyodo news service, a reiteration of Tokyo's position.
However, experts say Japan does not currently have the capability to shoot down a missile flying over its territory headed for Guam.
Experts also said the detail provided by North Korea made it likely it would follow through with its plans to avoid being seen as weak or lacking in resolve.
AVOIDING MISCALCULATION
Guam Governor Eddie Calvo said there was no heightened threat from North Korea.
"They like to be unpredictable, they'll pop a missile off when no one is ready and they've done it quite a few times. Now they've telegraphed it," he told Reuters in an interview.
"They're now telegraphing their punch, which means they don't want to have any misunderstandings. I think that's a position of fear," he said.
With defences covering South Korea and Japan, naval assets between Korea, Japan and Guam, and Guam's own missile defence system, there was a "multi-level defensive umbrella" protecting residents, Calvo said.
The United States and South Korea remain technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.
Tension in the region has risen since North Korea carried out two nuclear bomb tests last year and two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. Trump has said he will not allow Pyongyang to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued a stark warning on Wednesday, telling Pyongyang the United States and its allies would win any arms race or conflict.
"The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people," Mattis said in a statement, using the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
In a video of a rally in Pyongyang released by KCNA, Pak Hyong Ryol, the manager of a Pyongyang cornstarch factory, said North Koreans did not mind any kind of sanctions.
"They cannot stop our advance. This is the answer of our heroic Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il working class which has been grown up under the warm care of the Party,” Pak said, referring to North Korea's first two leaders.
HEADING TOWARDS CONFRONTATION
North Korea accuses Washington of devising a "preventive war" and has said any plans to execute this would be met with an "all-out war, wiping out all the strongholds of enemies, including the U.S. mainland".
Washington has warned it is ready to use force if needed to stop North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes but that it prefers global diplomatic action. The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Saturday.
China, North Korea's main ally, has consistently urged both sides to work to lower tensions.
Influential Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times said the North Korean nuclear issue was heading towards confrontation and it was time for the United States to respond to Pyongyang's security concerns.
"North Korea has almost been completely isolated by the outside world. Under such extreme circumstances, Pyongyang will weigh all its possible options," it said in an editorial on its website on Thursday. "Washington should stimulate Pyongyang's desire to engage with the outside world and return to the international community."
Reuters
Thu Aug 10 2017
![North Korea details Guam missile plan, calls Trump's warning a 'load of nonsense' North Korea details Guam missile plan, calls Trump's warning a 'load of nonsense'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-08/51502338167_USPresidentDonal.jpg)
Trump delivers remarks to reporters as he meets with Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tom Price (2nd L) and flanked by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway (L). REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
![Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program SOLVE 4 SME Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program SOLVE 4 SME](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723651455_TBSOLVE.jpg)
Lebih 1,600 premis PKS sertai program "SOLVE 4 SME"
JKKP memaklumkan penyertaan itu melebihi sasaran jabatan itu dan telah memberi manfaat kepada 70,824 pekerja PKS.
![PRK Nenggiri: PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident - Muhyiddin PRK Nenggiri: PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51713678198_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
PRK Nenggiri: "PN ada peluang menang, tapi jangan over-confident" - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin optimis dengan kemenangan calon PN, Mohd Rizwadi Ismail sekali gus mempertahankan kerusi DUN Nenggiri.
![Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024 Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717305735_EkonomiMalaysia.jpg)
Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024
Kalangan ahli ekonomi yakin KDNK Malaysia bagi suku kedua 2024 akan berkembang pada 5.8 peratus berbanding 4.2 peratus pada suku pertama tahun ini.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [15 Ogos 2024]
Antara fokus AWANI Pagi bersama Nursyazwani Saiful Sham dan Afiezy Azaman
- Mayat lelaki di jambatan Klang dipercayai YouTuber Nidza Afham
- BNM denda Maybank, CIMB kerana gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
- JIWA SME: Inovasi kuih sejuk beku jadi kudapan jemaah tunai umrah
#AWANInews #AWANIpagi
- Mayat lelaki di jambatan Klang dipercayai YouTuber Nidza Afham
- BNM denda Maybank, CIMB kerana gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
- JIWA SME: Inovasi kuih sejuk beku jadi kudapan jemaah tunai umrah
#AWANInews #AWANIpagi
![Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723681507_Ciscologo.jpg)
Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya
Langkah mengurangkan kakitangan itu dijangka melibatkan kos pra-cukai sehingga AS$1 bilion.
Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
![Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679998_KylianMbappe.jpg)
Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA
"Ia adalah malam yang hebat. Ia adalah detik yang hebat untuk saya. Dan kami memenangi kejuaraan, yang penting - di Madrid anda perlu sentiasa menang."
![“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie “I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679258_AufahanieNidzaAfh.jpg)
“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie
Air mata Aufahanie sudah kering meratapi pemergian abang tercinta, Nidza Afham yang ditemui meninggal dunia selepas dilaporkan hilang.
Konsert jelajah: Taylor Swift teruskan konsert London selepas ancaman keganasan
Taylor Swift akan meneruskan persembahan di London pada Khamis, meneruskan jelajah konsert terbesar dunia di tengah-tengah kebimbangan keselamatan susulan cubaan serangan Daesh memaksa pembatalan tarikh konsert di Vienna, minggu lalu.
Taliban rai ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahan Afghanistan
Kerajaan Taliban semalam meraikan ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahannya di Afghanistan dengan perarakan tentera yang memberi penghormatan kepada bom buatan sendiri yang digunakan ketika peperangan, pesawat pejuang dan perbarisan pasukan keselamatan.
![Temu bual Trump bersama Musk di X terganggu akibat serangan DDoS Temu bual Trump bersama Musk di X terganggu akibat serangan DDoS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723520099_DonaldJTrump.jpg)
Temu bual Trump bersama Musk di X terganggu akibat serangan DDoS
Menurut Elon Musk, serangan Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) besar-besaran mengganggu wawancara secara langsungnya dengan calon Presiden AS, Donald Trump.
![Pengurusan Celine Dion kecam Trump guna lagunya semasa berkempen Pengurusan Celine Dion kecam Trump guna lagunya semasa berkempen](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722078641_celinedion.jpg)
Pengurusan Celine Dion kecam Trump guna lagunya semasa berkempen
Pasukan pengurusan Dion mengeluarkan kenyataan bagi pihak artis Kanada itu dan syarikat rakamannya, mengatakan penggunaan lagu berkenaan "sama sekali tidak dibenarkan".
![Trump setuju sertai tiga debat pada September, tunggu jawapan Kamala Harris Trump setuju sertai tiga debat pada September, tunggu jawapan Kamala Harris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723155925_MAshup.jpg)
Trump setuju sertai tiga debat pada September, tunggu jawapan Kamala Harris
Trump umum hasratnya untuk tambah dua lagi sesi debat dengan pesaingnya, Harris di stesen televisyen Fox dan NBC.
![Trump setuju debat dengan Kamala Harris pada 4 Sept Trump setuju debat dengan Kamala Harris pada 4 Sept](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722664895_USElectionKamala.jpg)
Trump setuju debat dengan Kamala Harris pada 4 Sept
Trump berkata beliau mencapai persetujuan dengan Fox News untuk mengadakan debat dengan Harris pada 4 Sept di Pennsylvania.
![Trump sifatkan pembukaan Olimpik Paris sebagai 'memalukan' Trump sifatkan pembukaan Olimpik Paris sebagai 'memalukan'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721599360_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Trump sifatkan pembukaan Olimpik Paris sebagai 'memalukan'
Calon presiden Amerika Syarikat, Donald Trump menyifatkan upacara pembukaan Sukan Olimpik Paris minggu lepas sebagai memalukan.
![Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722058877_JoeBiden.jpg)
Biden umum pelan pembaharuan Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin - Laporan
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden berhasrat mengemukakan cadangan penting yang bertujuan untuk mereformasi Mahkamah Agung pada Isnin.
![FBI sahkan telinga Trump memang terkena peluru semasa cubaan bunuh FBI sahkan telinga Trump memang terkena peluru semasa cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720920437_DonaldTrump.jpg)
FBI sahkan telinga Trump memang terkena peluru semasa cubaan bunuh
Bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Donald Trump terkena peluru semasa percubaan pembunuhannya awal bulan ini, menurut kenyataan FBI.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Dewan Perwakilan AS sebulat suara undi tubuhkan pasukan petugas, siasat cubaan bunuh Trump Dewan Perwakilan AS sebulat suara undi tubuhkan pasukan petugas, siasat cubaan bunuh Trump](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721893961_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Dewan Perwakilan AS sebulat suara undi tubuhkan pasukan petugas, siasat cubaan bunuh Trump
Dewan Perwakilan Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada Rabu sebulat suara mengundi untuk menubuhkan pasukan petugas dwipartisan yang bertanggungjawab menyiasat cubaan bunuh bekas Presiden Donald Trump.
![Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US menjelang pengumuman data IHP AS Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US menjelang pengumuman data IHP AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713876066_TBringgitmalaysia.jpg)
Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar US menjelang pengumuman data IHP AS
Ringgit ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar Amerika Syarikat (dolar US) hari ini berikutan minat belian baharu menjelang data Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP) Malaysia, kata seorang penganalisis.