DHAKA: North Korea’s military has threatened to take ‘physical action’ after the United States and South Korea announced that they would deploy a sophisticated missile defense system on the Korean peninsula.

Seoul and Washington said on Friday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system would be used to counter Pyongyang’s growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

‘There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea are confirmed,’ the North’s military said in a statement on Monday, reports Al Jazeera.

‘We once again warn the enemies that it is the steadfast will of the KPA (Korean People’s Army) to make merciless retaliatory strikes to reduce South Korea to a sea in flames, debris once an order is issued.’

Pyongyang test fired what appeared to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile a day after the announcement by Seoul and Washington, sparking swift international condemnation.

The North frequently threatens to attack the South, as well as US interests in Asia and the Pacific.

BDST: 1356 HRS, JUL 11, 2016
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