North Korea has begun making and deploying new intermediate-range ballistic missiles that could reach US military targets in Okinawa, Japan and the Pacific US territory of Guam, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said.

NORTH KOREA said yesterday the proposed realignment of US forces in South Korea was a prelude to Washington’s plan to launch nuclear war against the communist country.

COMMUNIST North Korea yesterday said it wanted nuclear weapons so it could cut its huge conventional forces and divert funds into an economy foreign analysts say is close to collapse.