North Korea promise West will suffer ‘terrible horror’

A fiery editorial in a Pyongyang-based newspaper said an “all-out confrontation” was ongoing but told its readers “victory is just in store”.

The country has been acting increasingly erratically in recent months with a series of missile tests and threats and this latest outburst will set alarm bells ringing once again in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo amid fears of nuclear war.

It comes as North Korea turns its back on even historic allies such as China, as ‘Supreme Leader’ Kim Jong-un continues to sabre-rattle.

The propaganda rag, essentially a mouthpiece for the one-party government, said North Korea is ready to go to war.

It said: “The structure of standoff between the DPRK and the US has turned into that of nuclear standoff.

“The DPRK’s nuclear deterrent serving [is] the best guarantee for the eternal prosperity of the nation and global peace is getting stronger with the passage of time.”

According to the paper, the hermit state is “ready to counter any form of war, operation and combat”, going on to claim the North Korean military is expanding rapidly.

The piece said: “The DPRK had access to the substantial ultra-modern nuclear attack capability in order to put a definite end to the decades-long confrontation with the US.

“It will, as ever, produce more excellent Korean-style Juche weapons and nuclear strike means to strike terror into the enemy and annihilate them by steadily and dauntlessly making innovations and advance in its offensive for firmly consolidating the defence capability and nuclear deterrent.”

It comes as observers believe China is finally turning against North Korea after relations between the two states took a downturn in recent weeks.

Last month North Korean state media accused China of a “betrayal” following the introduction of coal imports to the country

It said: “China should no longer recklessly try to test the limitations of our patience. We have so devotedly helped the Chinese revolution and suffered enormous damage.”

And one North Korean expert warned Beijing was quickly losing patience with North Korea.

Odd Arne Westad of Harvard University said: “North Korea should be very careful. [Relations have never been] as bad as they are today – and they seem to be getting worse vey quickly.”