Another major war

North Korea's military has threatened to "physically act" against an advanced anti-missile system deployed by the U.S. and South Korea, and make them "suffer from the nightmare extreme uneasiness and terror."
The harsh rhetoric by North Korea's People's Army (KPA) is the communist state's first comment on Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) since the U.S. and South Korea announced Friday they are in the final stages of negotiation about where to deploy the missile system.


THAAD can shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles at incredible speed and altitude, and has been used by the U.S. for years to protect its military units.
"We once again warn the enemies that it is the steadfast will of the KPA to make merciless retaliatory strikes to reduce South Korea to a sea in flames and debris once an order is issued," KCNA cited the Korean People's Army as saying.
North Korea tested a submarine-based ballistic missile Saturday, which South Korea said was unsuccessful. It also fired two mobile intermediate range missiles in June, known as Musudan, off the east of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea condemned these tests, calling it a "clear violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution."
North Korea test-fired a new <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/09/asia/north-korea-missiles/">"ultra-precision" intelligent rocket</a> to be deployed across its navy, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on February 7, 2015.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
North Korea test-fired a new "ultra-precision" intelligent rocket to be deployed across its navy, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on February 7, 2015.
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North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on February 12, 2013 -- the first under Kim Jong Un. The nuclear test site and water cooling plant are seen in this satellite image.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on February 12, 2013 -- the first under Kim Jong Un. The nuclear test site and water cooling plant are seen in this satellite image.
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This picture from KCNA on December 12, 2012 shows the North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launching pad in North Korea.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
This picture from KCNA on December 12, 2012 shows the North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launching pad in North Korea.
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A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2012.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2012.
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This undated file picture released by KCNA on January 5, 2009 shows an artillery unit conducting a drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
This undated file picture released by KCNA on January 5, 2009 shows an artillery unit conducting a drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
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Images published by North Korean state media purport to show a north-korea-launches-missile-from-submarine/">submarine-launched ballistic missile</a> (SLBM) off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Five days later, South Korea claims the North launched <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/28/asia/north-korea-failed-missile-launch/index.html">two more missiles on April 28 that failed.</a>
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
Images published by North Korean state media purport to show a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Five days later, South Korea claims the North launched two more missiles on April 28 that failed.
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In March, 2016, state media says Pyongyang has <a hnorth-korea-nuclear-weapons/">miniaturized nuclear warheads.</a>
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
In March, 2016, state media says Pyongyang has miniaturized nuclear warheads.
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On February 9, 2016 South Korea's Defense Ministry releases images of debris believed to be a part of North Korean rocket,north-korea-rocket-launch/index.html">which was launched on February 7. </a>Pyongyang said it had successfully launched Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into orbit.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On February 9, 2016 South Korea's Defense Ministry releases images of debris believed to be a part of North Korean rocket, which was launched on February 7. Pyongyang said it had successfully launched Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into orbit.
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On January north-korea-hydrogen-bomb-test/">North Korea claims to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb</a>. Seismic waves indicate an "artificial earthquake" near Punggye-ri, North Korea's main nuclear testing site.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On January 6, North Korea claims to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. Seismic waves indicate an "artificial earthquake" near Punggye-ri, North Korea's main nuclear testing site.
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On May 9, 2015, North Korea state media reports the country has successfully fired a north-korea-missiles/">"cutting-edge" anti-ship missile</a> from a submarine.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On May 9, 2015, North Korea state media reports the country has successfully fired a "cutting-edge" anti-ship missile from a submarine.
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North Korea test-fired a new north-korea-missiles/">"ultra-precision" intelligent rocket</a> to be deployed across its navy, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on February 7, 2015.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
North Korea test-fired a new "ultra-precision" intelligent rocket to be deployed across its navy, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said on February 7, 2015.
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North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on February 12, 2013 -- the first under Kim Jong Un. The nuclear test site and water cooling plant are seen in this satellite image.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on February 12, 2013 -- the first under Kim Jong Un. The nuclear test site and water cooling plant are seen in this satellite image.
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This picture from KCNA on December 12, 2012 shows the North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launching pad in North Korea.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
This picture from KCNA on December 12, 2012 shows the North Korean rocket Unha-3, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, lifting off from the launching pad in North Korea.
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A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2012.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2012.
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This undated file picture released by KCNA on January 5, 2009 shows an artillery unit conducting a drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
This undated file picture released by KCNA on January 5, 2009 shows an artillery unit conducting a drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
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Images published by North Korean state media purport to show a north-korea-launches-missile-from-submarine/">submarine-launched ballistic missile</a> (SLBM) off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Five days later, South Korea claims the North launched <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/28/asia/north-korea-failed-missile-launch/index.html">two more missiles on April 28 that failed.</a>
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
Images published by North Korean state media purport to show a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Five days later, South Korea claims the North launched two more missiles on April 28 that failed.
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In March, 2016, state media says Pyongyang has north-korea-nuclear-weapons/">miniaturized nuclear warheads.</a>
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
In March, 2016, state media says Pyongyang has miniaturized nuclear warheads.
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On February 9, 2016 South Korea's Defense Ministry releases images of debris believed to be a part of North Korean rocket, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/09/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch/index.html">which was launched on February 7. </a>Pyongyang said it had successfully launched Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into orbit.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On February 9, 2016 South Korea's Defense Ministry releases images of debris believed to be a part of North Korean rocket, which was launched on February 7. Pyongyang said it had successfully launched Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong-4 into orbit.
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On January 6,north-korea-hydrogen-bomb-test/">North Korea claims to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb</a>. Seismic waves indicate an "artificial earthquake" near Punggye-ri, North Korea's main nuclear testing site.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On January 6, North Korea claims to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. Seismic waves indicate an "artificial earthquake" near Punggye-ri, North Korea's main nuclear testing site.
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On May 9, 2015, North Korea state media reports the country has successfully fired a north-korea-missiles/">"cutting-edge" anti-ship missile</a> from a submarine.
Photos: North Korea's weapons tests
On May 9, 2015, North Korea state media reports the country has successfully fired a "cutting-edge" anti-ship missile from a submarine.
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A security threat?
China and Russia also see THAAD as a security threat and voiced strong concerns.
Analysts: China must enforce North Korea sanctions.

Analysts: China must enforce North Korea sanctions. 03:03
"Any excuse for the deployment (of THAAD) would be unjustified," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday, according to official media.
He also urged related parties to "act in an appropriate manner and avoid committing a serious mistake."
South Korea has reiterated that THAAD is purely defensive in nature and will solely be used against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
Speaking to senior presidential secretaries, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Monday that North Korea's threats are "life-threatening issues" against the future and life of Korean people.
"There is no reason for us to use THAAD against or intrude security interests of a third party country besides North Korea," she added.