In this Saturday, April 15, 2017, file photo, a submarine missile is paraded across Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country鈥檚 late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. North Korea鈥檚 big day came and went with no underground nuclear test by the North and no pre-emptive strikes off the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier sent to waters off the Korean Peninsula by President Donald Trump. AP
UNITED NATIONS, United States 鈥� North Korea is preparing for 鈥渁ny mode of war鈥� triggered by US military action, Pyongyang鈥檚 envoy to the United Nations warned Monday, saying his country would respond to a missile or nuclear strike 鈥渋n kind.鈥�
The statement from North Korea鈥檚 deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Kim In Ryong, followed warnings from US Vice President Mike Pence to Pyongyang not to test US resolve.
鈥淚f the United States dares opt for a military action (鈥�) the DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the Americans,鈥� Kim told a news conference at UN headquarters in New York.
鈥淲e will take the toughest counteraction against the provocateurs,鈥� he said.
READ: 鈥楤ehave,鈥� Trump warns North Korea鈥檚 Kim Jong-Un
North Korea has taken 鈥渟elf-defensive鈥� measures in response to US threats of military action and these reflect Pyongyang鈥檚 determination to 鈥渃ounter nukes and ICBM in kind,鈥� Kim said, referring to intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Pence earlier told a news conference in South Korea that 鈥渢he era of strategic patience is over鈥� after North Korea on Sunday test-fired another missile and fears mounted that it may be preparing a sixth nuclear test.
Pyongyang is seeking to develop a long-range missile capable of hitting the US mainland with a nuclear warhead, and has so far staged five nuclear tests, two of them last year.
Kim also confirmed that a new nuclear test was under preparation, saying that the plans had been announced and that 鈥渋t will take place.鈥�
鈥淎s far as nuclear test is concerned, it was already announced to the public. It is something that our headquarters decided. At a time and at the place where our headquarters deem necessary, it will take place,鈥� he said.
鈥楪ot to behave鈥�
US President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision at the weekend to send the Carl Vinson carrier-led navy strike group to the Korean peninsula shows that the 鈥淯S reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase,鈥� said Kim.
The North Korean deputy envoy asserted that Pyongyang would hold the United States 鈥渨holly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions.鈥�
The envoy criticized the US missile strikes that hit an air base in Syria last week, saying Washington was resorting to a 鈥済angster-like logic鈥� that its military action was proportionate and could apply to the Korean peninsula as well.
Trump on Monday said his message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was: 鈥淕ot to behave.鈥�
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric separately expressed concern over rising tensions on the Korean peninsula and said the latest missile test was 鈥渢roubling鈥�.
He urged North Korea to 鈥渢ake all the steps necessary to de-escalate the situation and return to dialogue on denuclearization.鈥�
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will next week chair a special meeting of the UN Security Council on North Korea.聽 CBB