North Korea warns US of ‘merciless’ attacks

North Korea on Tuesday warned the U.S. of “merciless” attacks if an aircraft carrier strike group joining South Korean forces for military exercises infringes on the north’s “sovereignty or dignity,” Reuters reported.

“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,” North Korean state news agency KCNA said, according to Reuters.

“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,” it continued.

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The threat comes amid increasingly aggressive weapons tests by the north. Last week, Pyongyang fired four missiles into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. That move followed another missile test while President Trump was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last month in Palm Beach, Fla. North Korea also reportedly tested two nuclear weapons last year.

The U.S. aircraft carrier strike group, led by the U.S.S. Carl Vinson, is on a regular deployment to the region, according to Reuters.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is set to visit South Korea on Friday, his first such visit as the top U.S. diplomat.