In the midst of a national military ceremony in the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea helpfully reminded the world that it remains ready to fire long-range ballistic missiles and kamikaze-like nuclear strikes aimed at the U.S., and other enemies.
Despite some recent suggestions the North was open to engaging in diplomatic talks, and that the nation's nuclear bluff might have been called, Pyongyang unleashed a fresh torrent of rhetoric Thursday as the nation celebrated a military anniversary.
"Stalwart pilots, once given a sortie order, will load nuclear bombs, instead of fuel for return, and storm enemy strongholds to blow them up," the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, quoting the country's Air and Anti-Air Force commander, Ri Pyong-chol, as announcing during the ceremony honoring the inception of the North Korean People's Army. The KCNA is the North's state-run media service, and typically acts as a mouthpiece for the nation and its leaders.
Kim Rak-gyom, a general and Strategic Rocket Force commander, further emphasized Pyongyang's readiness to attack, proclaiming the North was merely "one click away from pushing the launch button."
"If the U.S. imperialists and their followers dare make a pre-emptive attack, they will be made to keenly realize what a real nuclear war and real retaliatory blows are like," Rak-gyom said.
As the New York Times notes, North Korea has a history of using the military holiday to espouse its anti-American sentiments and reaffirm the strength of its armed forces through histrionic chest-beating.
North Korea might flex its nuclear muscle virtually every day, but experts on the region remain unconvinced North Korea currently possesses the ability to produce nuclear weapons.
"Our military's assessment is that the North has not yet miniaturized," said South Korean defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok.
"North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests but there is doubt whether it is at the stage where they can reduce the weight and miniaturize to mount on a missile."
Much of the North's recent hostility is likely a result of the international community's almost complete dismissal of its demand to be formally recognized as a nuclear weapons state; the U.S. described the declaration as "neither realistic nor acceptable".
After months of blistering war rhetoric, Pyongyang had recently softened its tone, setting terms for opening up a dialogue with the U.S. and South Korea last week, signaling the insular nation may understand it has backed itself into a diplomatic corner with its incessant nuclear posturing. Of course, North Korea's conditions weren't exactly what most would consider reasonable: Pyongyang said the country would only enter into discussions if the United Nations removed the sanctions against it and the U.S. and South agreed to total nuclear disarmament.
The U.S. responded incredulously, saying North Korea needed to denuclearize first and cease missile launches before discussions could truly open up between the nations; a suggestion that Pyongyang's Rodong Sinmun newspaper outright rejected.
North Korea has continued to ratchet up its aggressive rhetoric on a near-daily basis ever since its third nuclear test launch in February. In recent months, North Korea has released a seemingly endless flood of nearly daily threats aimed at South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. and its military bases in the region. Many analysts believe North Korea's constant antagonism is a result of crippling economic sanctions brought against the country by the U.N. due to Pyongyang's refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions.
The most recently approved U.N sanctions "broaden and tighten" the many current financial, economic and trade sanctions that have been in effect against Pyongyang since 2006, and outright ban the sale of luxuries such as yachts and sports cars in the country, highly cherished toys of North Korea's "ruling elite", according to NBC News. Some of the measures also stymie North Korea's ability to move its money around the world, and finance and gather material for its weapons programs.