North Korea ability for pre-emptive attack on U.S.

North Korea suggested it has the ability to launch a pre- emptive attack on the United States. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the North had built atomic weapons to counter the U.S. nuclear threat.

“As we declared, our strong revolutionary might put in place all measures to counter possible U.S. pre-emptive strike,” the spokesman said, according to the Korean Central News Agency. “Pre-emptive strike is not the monopoly of the United States.”

The spokesman suggested it would be a “wise step” for the United States to cooperate on nuclear issues with North Korea in the same way it does with India.

In early March, President Bush signed an accord in India that would open some of its atomic reactors to international inspections in exchange for U.S. nuclear know-how and atomic fuel. The accord was reached even though New Delhi has not signed the international Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which North Korea has withdrawn from.

[Reuters]