North Korea warns of 'fire shower' nuclear attack

North Korea condemned a recent US pledge to provide nuclear defence of South Korea, saying today that the move boosts its justification to have atomic bombs and invites a potential “fire shower of nuclear retaliation.”

The commentary in Pyongyang’s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper was the North’s latest reaction to last week’s summit between US President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. The allies issued a joint statement committing the US to defend the South with nuclear weapons.