DPRK warns of retaliation against THAAD deployment by US, ROK

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned Monday that it will take "physical measures" to cope with the US deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The countermeasures will be taken once the location of the deployment is decided, said the Korean People's Army in the warning carried by the official KCNA news agency.

Pyongyang stressed that the United States and South Korea, which claim the DPRK's self-defense is a "severe threat" and their aggressive means of warfare is "defensive," were just confusing black with white.

The two countries' joint THAAD deployment decision results from the US ambition to dominate the world and South Korea's confrontation with the DPRK, Pyongyang said, warning that the DPRK army will "make merciless retaliatory strikes to reduce South Korea to a sea of flames, debris once an order is issued."

In a joint statement Friday, Seoul and Washington said the two allies decided to deploy THAAD in South Korea to protect the country and its people from the DPRK's nuclear threats, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.

Regional countries including China and Russia have repeatedly voiced their serious concern over the move due to its far-reaching negative impact.