N. Korea warns of ‘overwhelming nuclear force’ to counter US

By KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says it’s prepared to counter U.S. military moves with the “most overwhelming nuclear force” as it warned that the expansion of the United States’ combined military exercises with rival South Korea is pushing tensions to an “extreme red line.” The statement Thursday by Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry was in response to comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. He said on a visit to Seoul this week that the United States would increase its deployment of advanced weapons to the Korean Peninsula as it strengthens training with South Korea. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said United States flew B-1B bombers and F-22 and F-35 fighter jets in an exercise with South Korean fighters on Wednesday.