N Korea calls US strikes on Syria unforgivable

SEOUL: North Korea said on Saturday US missile strikes against a Syrian airfield on Friday were “an unforgivable act of aggression” that showed its decision to develop nuclear weapons was “the right choice a million times over”.

The response by North Korea’s foreign ministry, carried by the official KCNA news agency, was the first since US warships in the Mediterranean Sea launched dozens of missiles at a Syrian air base which the Pentagon says was involved in a chemical weapons attack earlier in the week.

“The US missile attack against Syria is a clear and unforgivable act of aggression against a sovereign state and we strongly condemn this,” KCNA quoted an unnamed spokesman for the North Korean foreign ministry as saying.

“The reality of today proves our decision to strengthen our military power to stand against force with force was the right choice a million times over,” KCNA said.

Diplomatically isolated North Korea considers Syria a key ally. KCNA said its leader Kim Jong Un and Syrian leader Bashar al Assad exchanged messages of warm wishes and pledges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The US strikes came as Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida to press the leader of North Korea’s sole diplomatic ally to do more to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. North Korea is believed to be developing missiles capable of hitting the United States and a nuclear arsenal in defiance of UN sanctions. It has conducted five nuclear tests — two since the beginning of last year — and scores of missile tests. MANILA: A trio of strong earthquakes damaged buildings and caused panicked tourists to flee a popular dive resort near the Philippine capital on Saturday, officials and eyewitnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the quakes, the strongest of which hit the coast close to Mabini, a resort town south of Manila famous for its marine life and coral reefs.

The first 5.5-magnitude temblor struck inland at 3:08 pm (0708 GMT) followed by a 5.9-quake just a minute later, according to a revised report by the US Geological Service. The first quake was earlier reported as 5.7 magnitude.

A 5.0 quake hit in the same region after another 20 minutes, according to US geologists.

“I was in the pool taking diving lessons when the ground shook... We all climbed out and ran. Concrete slabs were falling,” Filipino tourist Arnel Casanova, 47, said by telephone from a Mabini dive resort. “When I went back to my room the ceiling had collapsed and the glass windows were broken, but so far everybody is safe,” said Casanova, who was at the resort with his 20-year-old son.

He said resort guests remained outside the damaged buildings more than an hour later as the area was hit with aftershocks.

The quakes caused landslides which blocked two roads and damaged an old church, a hospital and several houses in the area, local officials told ABS- CBN television.

“We are evacuating some people who live on the coast. We want them to stay in a safe area tonight,” Mabini Mayor Noel Luistro told the station.

He said he expected at least 3,000 residents to move inland in case of further aftershocks, although the state seismology office said there was no threat of tsunamis. “The town is full of tourists, both local and foreign this weekend,” he added.

The network also broadcast live footage of frightened commuters fleeing the passenger terminal at the port of Batangas, near the epicentres.

The quakes caused power outages across the region but caused no casualties, Romina Marasigan, spokeswoman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said.

In Manila, about 100 kilometres away, AFP reporters saw people running out of office buildings in the financial district.

The Philippines lies on the socalled Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.