N. Korea threatens to turn Seoul into a sea of fire

North Korea criticized South Korea’s military operation in the West Sea, saying, “Seoul might turn into a sea of fire.”

“Our military capable of reaching the mainland U.S. across the Pacific Ocean do not even raise an eyebrow at the gunfire exercise by puppets who are like little kids’ playing with fire," North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said on Monday night. “They should bear in mind that we can make the Baengnyeong Island or the Yeonpyeong Island and even Seoul into a sea of fire and refrain from running amok. We (North Korea) are fully prepared to show our powerful fire lightening to warmongers anytime and anywhere.”

North Korea’s raw criticism came after South Korea’s Marine Corps conducted drills including testing a ground-to-ground "Spike" missile, which is capable of striking coast artillery guns in the North. North Korea is facing the toughest sanctions ever in history and has been neurotic about the military drill in the South for a local war, mentioning a "sea of fire.” North Korea filled the first page of the state-run Rodong Sinmun on Tuesday with statements criticizing the U.N. sanctions on North Korea.

In-Chan Hwang hic@donga.com · Sung-Ha Joo zsh75@donga.com