North Korean Says It Is On 'Brink Of Nuclear War' With US

North Korea has say it's 'on the brink of nuclear war' after calling the US a 'blackmailing gangster'.

The United States is currently staging military drills with South Korea, following on from North Korea's live-fire drills, which took place earlier this week.

The country also claimed that the US is holding it at 'knifepoint' by supporting its enemies, the Daily Mail reports.

Credit: PA

North Korea's state news agency, KCNA, released a statement saying: "It is just the U.S. which has pushed the situation on the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war by staging the largest-ever aggressive joint military drills against the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] for the past two months after bringing all sorts of nuclear strategic assets to south Korea.

"No one in the world welcomes a gangster blackmailing the owner with a dagger.

"It is an entirely legitimate right to self-defence for the DPRK to further increase its war deterrent to cope with the prevailing grave situation on the peninsula.

Credit: PA

"The present reality clearly proves that the DPRK was so right when it made a crucial decision to strengthen its nuclear force in quality and quantity.

"The nuclear force of the DPRK is a treasure sword of justice and reliable war deterrent to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and global peace from the nuclear war threat posed by the US."

These latest comments come as tensions between North Korea and the US continue to ramp up. Leader Kim Jong-un has promised to continue nuclear missile tests. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday, he would like the conflict to be resolved peacefully, but that he couldn't rule out military action.

North Korea carried out live-fire drills this week. Credit: PA

He said: "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea.

"We'd love to solve things diplomatically but it's very difficult."

China, North Korea's only major ally, has previously spoken out about feeling uncomfortable about Kim Jong-un's pursuits of nuclear weapons.

The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China has asked North Korea to stop carrying out nuclear tests.

Sources: Reuters; Daily Mail

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: kim jong-un, united states, Donald Trump, North Korea

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19