North Korea vows ‘physical countermeasures’ against South

North Korea says it will take “physical countermeasures” against South Korea if that nation joins a U.N. resolution sanctioning the North for its December rocket launch.

The North has a history of bluffing, but in 2010, its military did shell a border island that killed four South Koreans.

The threat comes on the heels of a Tuesday Security Council resolution to sanction North Korea for its Dec. 12 missile test. In response, North Korea affirmed it would bolster its nuclear capabilities, despite international pressures — and would target its next test at the United States. On Thursday, South Korea issued a strongly worded statement condemning North Korea.

“President-elect Park [Geun-hye] makes it clear that North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and further provocations against the South will not be tolerated,” South Korean ambassador Rhee In-je said, according to the Associated Press, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. “In particular, she strongly urges North Korea to refrain from further worsening the situation by conducting a third nuclear test.”

North Korea did not specify what shape the “physical countermeasures” might take.

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