North Korea threatens to attack the US ‘mercilessly’ if it infringes its “sovereignty

North Korea has threatened to unleash a “merciless” attack on the US if its aircraft carrier infringes its “sovereignty and dignity,” during the US-South Korean drills.

“If they infringe on the DPRK’s sovereignty and dignity even a bit, its army will launch merciless ultra-precision strikes from ground, air, sea and underwater,” the North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday.

The threat comes after F-18 fighter jets took off from the flight deck of the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson carrier in a show of US firepower force as tensions with North Korea continued to rise after it conducted nuclear tests and launched a series of missiles into the Sea of Japan in the past year, reported Reuters.

The US is taking part in military exercises with its ally South Korea that involve special forces — including SEAL Team 6 and the Army’s Rangers, Delta Force and Green Berets — as part of a plan to “decapitate” the leadership in Pyongyang, according to reports.

“On March 11 alone, many enemy carrier-based aircraft flew along a course near territorial air and waters of the DPRK to stage drills of dropping bombs and making surprise attacks on the ground targets of its army,” the North Korean news agency said.

The US began to deploy the system a week ago, a day after North Korea launched its latest four missile tests.

The US and South Korea say the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system is for defence against North Korea, but China fears its powerful radar can probe deep into its territory and compromise its security.