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SEOUL: North Korea said Friday it will maintain its war mobilisation posture against feared US attacks, despite this week's deal aimed at dismantling its nuclear weapons programmes.
A senior official also praised the country's nuclear weapons, just days after the North agreed in principle to give them up.
In a joint letter to leader Kim Jong-Il on his 65th birthday, state media said the communist country's party, government, military and people vowed to follow his guidance to build a “powerful socialist state.”
“People's Army soldiers and the people will maintain war preparedness to the full to deal with US imperialists' manoeuvres for aggression,” said the letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“If the enemies dare ignite the fire of war, we will mobilise all our powerful combat potential built up through the maelstrom of Songun (army-first) revolution, mercilessly crush the enemies and achieve the historic task of national unification,” it said.
Such rhetoric is not unusual in a country which since its founding has regarded Washington as its principal foe.
North Korea, the United States and four other nations agreed in Beijing Tuesday on disabling the North's nuclear programme in exchange for aid and diplomatic benefits.
The letter was adopted at a meeting of representatives of the communist party, government and army late Thursday on the eve of Kim's birthday.
At the meeting, parliament speaker Choe Thae-Bok said its nuclear weapons helped maintain peace and security in Northeast Asia.
“The successful nuclear test last year represents a proud victory of Songun politics, a historic event in the 5,000 years of the Korean nation and a thrilling demonstration of the greatness and might of the socialist DPRK (North Korea),” he said.
“By proudly ascending to the status of a nuclear-armed state… we are now able to defend the socialist fatherland against any nuclear war threats or agression from any enemies and contribute to protecting peace and security in the Northeast Asian region.”
Choe said the North was closely watching with heightened alarm the US attempt to “stifle” it.
“Our army and the people will never sit idle should anyone dare attempt to hurt the sovereignty and diginity of the republic,” he was quoted by the official news agency as saying.
