Thaindian News

SEOUL (BNO NEWS) — North Korea warned of an “all-out war” in response to a South Korean anti-submarine exercise on early Thursday, according to North Korean state media.

South Korea had launched an anti-submarine drill off its west coast on Thursday as part of its military response to the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which was blamed on a North Korean torpedo by an international investigation.

Immediately after the exercise, North Korea’s military said it would scrap inter-Korean accords to prevent accidental naval clashes. Later, North Korea warned of an “all-out war,” though it is not uncommon for North Korea to make threats of military action

“Now that the puppet group challenged the DPRK formally and blatantly, the DPRK will react to confrontation with confrontation, and to a war with an all-out war,” state-run media reported. It said North Korea, which it called a ‘group of traitors’, would suffer ‘unheard disastrous consequences’ if they ignored North Korea’s will.

Also on Thursday, the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea called on North Korea to cease all acts of provocation. Army General Walter Sharp made the remarks at Yongsan Garrison, the U.S. military headquarters in Seoul.

“We call on North Korea to cease all acts of provocation and live up to terms of the past agreements, including the armistice agreement,” Sharp said.

President Barack Obama, as well as other U.S. officials, have reaffirmed their unconditional support for South Korea since the incident. “South Korea is a staunch ally, a friend, and a partner,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a news conference in Seoul on Wednesday.

Clinton said its alliance with South Korea is ‘a source of strength of confidence.’ “For the United States, the security and sovereignty of South Korea is a solemn responsibility and a rock solid commitment,” she added.

Also on Wednesday, a military official told the Yonhap news agency that it is attempting to track down four North Korean submarines which disappeared from their east coast base after conducting naval training in the East Sea earlier this week. The locations of the 300-ton-class submarines have been unknown for three days now, further raising tensions.

South Korea previously said it would it would exercise its self-defense rights if there are any further acts of violence from North Korea.