N KOREA READY FOR ANY TYPE OF WAR TRIGGERED BY US: OFFICIAL

UNITED NATIONS/TOKYO: North Korea is preparing for “any mode of war” triggered by US military action, Pyongyang’s envoy to the United Nations warned onMonday, saying his country would respond to a missile or nuclear strike “in kind.”

The statement from North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Kim In Ryong, followed warnings from US vice president Mike Pence to Pyongyang not to test US resolve.

“If the United States dares opt for a military action (...) the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the Americans,” Kim told a news conference at UN headquarters in New York.

“We will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs,” he said.

North Korea has taken “selfdefensive” measures in response to US threats of military action and these reflect Pyongyang’s determination to “counter nukes and ICBM in kind,” Kim said, referring to intercontinental ballistic missiles.

While visiting Japan on Tuesday, Pence said the US will not relent until it achieves its objective of ensuring the Korean Peninsula is free of nuclear weapons.

After meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other leaders, Pence told reporters that President Donald Trump was confident that economic and diplomatic pressure has a chance of compelling North Korea to cooperate.

“It is our belief by bringing together the family of nations with diplomatic and economic pressure we have a chance of achieving a freeze on the Korean Peninsula,” Pence said.

“We will not rest and will not relent until we obtain the objective of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” he said.

The Trump administration has signalled a more forceful US stance toward North Korea’s recent missile tests and threats, including a warning from Trump that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has “gotta behave.”

Pence struck a stern tone after arriving at a US naval base from South Korea. “We appreciate the challenging times in which the people of Japan live .We are with you 100%.” AGENCIES