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North Korea 'readies rocket force' after US stealth flights North Korea 'readies rocket force' after US stealth flights
(35 minutes later)
North Korea says it has put missile units on stand-by to attack US targets in response to US stealth bomber flights over the Korean peninsula.North Korea says it has put missile units on stand-by to attack US targets in response to US stealth bomber flights over the Korean peninsula.
State news agency KCNA said leader Kim Jong-un signed off on the order at a late-night meeting of top generals.State news agency KCNA said leader Kim Jong-un signed off on the order at a late-night meeting of top generals.
The time had come to "settle accounts" with the US, KCNA quoted him as saying, with the B-2 flights an "ultimatum".The time had come to "settle accounts" with the US, KCNA quoted him as saying, with the B-2 flights an "ultimatum".
Pyongyang has been angered by fresh UN sanctions and annual US-South Korea military drills.Pyongyang has been angered by fresh UN sanctions and annual US-South Korea military drills.
"If they make a reckless provocation with huge strategic forces, the Korean People's Army should mercilessly strike the US mainland, their stronghold, their military bases in the operational theatres in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea," KCNA quoted Kim Jong-un as saying.
The US - which flew two stealth bombers over the peninsula on Thursday as part of the ongoing military drills - has said it is ready for "any eventuality" on the peninsula.The US - which flew two stealth bombers over the peninsula on Thursday as part of the ongoing military drills - has said it is ready for "any eventuality" on the peninsula.
Kim Jong-un placed the rocket units on standby after an emergency meeting at 00:30 on Friday (15:30 GMT), KNCA said. In a statement, it said that the B-2 planes demonstrated America's ability to "provide extended deterrence" to its allies and conduct "long-range, precision strikes quickly and at will".
Tensions in the Korean peninsula are high following North Korea's third nuclear test on 12 February. "The North Koreans have to understand that what they're doing is very dangerous," US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters on Thursday. "We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that."
North Korea has also made multiple threats against both the US and South Korea in recent weeks, including warning of a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on the US and the scrapping of the Korean War armistice. Tensions in the Korean peninsula are high following North Korea's third nuclear test on 12 February, which led to the imposition of a fresh raft of sanctions.
North Korea has made multiple threats against both the US and South Korea in recent weeks, including warning of a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on the US and the scrapping of the Korean War armistice.
North Korea is not thought to have the technology to strike the US mainland with either a nuclear weapon or a ballistic missile, but it is capable of targeting some US military bases in Asia with its mid-range missiles.North Korea is not thought to have the technology to strike the US mainland with either a nuclear weapon or a ballistic missile, but it is capable of targeting some US military bases in Asia with its mid-range missiles.
On Wednesday, Pyongyang cut a military hotline with the south - the last direct official link between the two nations.On Wednesday, Pyongyang cut a military hotline with the south - the last direct official link between the two nations.