N Korea warns US Ambassador to S Korea re potential mishap

North Korea have told the U.S ambassador to South Korea that he could face a “bigger mishap” than the knife attack to his face last month if he does not stop insulting the country with “laughable” accusations.

Ambassador Mark Lippert said that North Korea will be rewarded with prosperity and better ties with the outside world if it improves its human rights record and begins to call an end to its nuclear programme in a speech on Wednesday.

A North Korean propaganda agency, the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, claimed that Lippert’s remarks proved that Washington really was intent on pursuing hostility.

North Korea: Inside the Hermit Kingdom

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In a commentary published on Thursday on the Uriminzokkiriwebsite, the committee wrote: “Lippert needs to drop the bad habit of rashly engaging in scheming chatter distorting the truth and instigating war by taking issue with us.

“Otherwise next time, he could face a bigger mishap than getting cut in the cheek by a South Korean citizen.”

Kim taking in the view from the highest point in North Korea

Lippert was slashed in the face with a fruit knife by a South Korean man with a history of erratic behaviour at a breakfast forum in central Seoul in early March.

It required 80 stitches and he also suffered injuries to his arm.

The attacker was charged with attempted murder although he was not charged with any crimes related to North Korea despite being questioned over his multiple visits to the country.

READ MORE:
MARK LIPPERT SUFFERS NERVE DAMAGE AFTER SEOUL KNIFE ATTACK
KIM JONG-UN LEARNED TO DRIVE AT AGE THREE, NORTH KOREAN CHILDREN WILL BE TAUGHT
NORTH KOREA MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BY HANDING OUT MAKE-UP TO PILOT'S WIVES

North Korea had previously said the attack was “deserved punishment” but denied that it had anything to do with them.

In Washington, a spokesman for the U.S State Department said: “We have seen the statement which is unfortunately consistent with the nature of the regime and its rhetoric.”

The north frequently issues pugnacious rhetoric towards the US and has accused it of planning an imminent invasion.

President Kim Jong-Un, according to the Korea Times, has said the threat of invasion from the US is at a more serious level than at any other time since he came to power three year ago and has called for full-combat readiness for the North Korean army

S Korea increases defense budget

S. Korea increases defense budget to better counter N. Korean threatsUpdated: 2015-04-20 18:24:21 KST

Two-hundred-14 billion U.S. dollars.
That's about how much South Korea is planning to inject into its defense budget from 2016 to 2020 to beef up its military.
This is according to South Korea's defense ministry, which unveiled its five-year defense plan on Monday.
One-hundred-43 billion dollars will be used for administrative expenses such as troop salary increases and strengthening the military as a whole, for example, by bolstering its cyber warfare capabilities.
The rest will go toward enhancing the nation's defense capabilities.


"We allocated the money based on the key components for deterring North Korea's provocations -- Kill Chain and Korea Air Missile Defense -- and on strengthening the military's capabilities in war."

Kill Chain uses multi-purpose satellites, unmanned aircraft and missiles to find and destroy targets, while KAMD utilizes Patriot interceptors and surface-to-air missiles.
Roughly 8 billion dollars will go toward building the two systems.
That's more than half a billion more than what was allocated in the previous five-year plan put forward last year.
The budget increase comes as North Korea is believed to have made significant progress on miniaturizing a nuclear weapon and as its ballistic missiles continue to pose a threat.
With the two systems, South Korea aims to gain the capability to find and destroy North Korea's mobile missiles launchers in 30 minutes

(Stand-up)
"However, many experts point out that South Korea will continue to be under threat until the mid 2020s, as that's when the two systems are expected to be ready for deployment. They say, until then, Seoul will need to bridge the gap in its missile defense capability.
Laah Hyun-kyung, Arirang News."

Reporter : jlaah@arirang.co.kr