North Korea has threatened to respond with nuclear weapons to a major US-South Korean naval exercise that began this weekend, saying it was ready for a "retaliatory sacred war". The threat came from the powerful National Defence Commission (NDC), chaired by leader Kim Jong-Il on Saturday (July 24)as tensions grew over the sinking of a South Korean warship which Seoul and Washington blame on Pyongyang.
The North routinely threatens war in response to joint military exercises by the two long-time allies, calling them a rehearsal for war. But tensions have been high for the past two months, since the US and South Korea accused the North of torpedoing the warship with the loss of 46 lives. The North denies involvement and says the "smear campaign" is a pretext for aggression. The United States and South Korea have begun four-day joint exercises -- the first in a series -- in what they say is a bid to deter North Korea's "aggressive" behavior. "All these war manoeuvres are nothing but outright provocations aimed to stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by force of arms to all intents and purposes," the NDC said in a statement on Pyongyang's official news agency. "The army and people of the DPRK will legitimately counter with their powerful nuclear deterrence the largest-ever nuclear war exercises to be staged by the US and the South Korean puppet forces."
The exercise "is as reckless an act as waking up a sleeping tiger", it said. The North's people and army would "start a retaliatory sacred war of their own style based on nuclear deterrent any time necessary" to counter the US and South Korea, which were pushing the situation to the brink of war, it said.
Will Muralidharan's retirement help India win second test?
India will have to lift their game by many notches when they take on Sri Lanka in the second cricket Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) here Monday.
Sri Lanka are 1-0 up in the three-Test series after their 10-wicket victory against India at Galle. But Sri Lanka would be without strike bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga, who took 15 wickets in between them at Galle.
While Murali played his last Test at Galle, Malinga is out with a stiff knee.
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who tormented the Indian batsmen in 2008, is likely to replace Murali. Mendis have not been successful against India after that series, but he is in good form and took six wickets in the warm-up match.
Malinga is likely to be replaced by paceman Dilhara Fernando.
The absence of Murali and Malinga will give India an edge, but the visitors will have to put up a much improved show if they are to level the series and also save their number one position in Test rankings...
