War unavoidable: N Korea

SEOUL: Large military drills being carried out by the United States and South Korea and US threats of a pre-emptive war against Pyongyang have made the outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula “an established fact”, North Korea’s foreign ministry said.

A spokesman for the North’s foreign ministry also blamed “confrontational warmongering” remarks by US officials for pushing the peninsula to the brink of war. “The remaining question now is: when will the war break out?” the spokesman said late on Wednesday in a statement carried by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

“We do not wish for a war but shall not hide from it,” he said.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen markedly in recent months after North Korea’s latest missile and nuclear tests, conducted in defiance of international pressure and United Nations resolutions.

North Korea said last week it had tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile yet, which was capable of reaching the United States.

White House national security adviser HR McMaster said at the weekend the possibility of war with North Korea was “increasing every day”.

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also urged the Pentagon to start moving U.S. military dependants, such as spouses and children, out of South Korea, saying conflict with North Korea was getting close.

On Wednesday, a US B-1B bomber joined the joint US-South Korean military exercises, which are called “Vigilant Ace” and will run until Friday.

North Korea has denounced the exercises.