North Korea threatens attack on US troops

NORTH KOREA threatened to launch a pre-emptive attack on United States troops last night as America and Britain continued to amass forces for an imminent attack on Iraq.

The North Korean threat carries real menace as it comes 24 hours after the country announced it was putting its nuclear facilities on a "normal footing,'' sparking fears it was about to produce weapons material.

North Korea has kicked out inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and stepped up work on its Yongbyon nuclear reactor.