S. Korea denounces N. Korea's bellicose threats as 'useless'

South Korea on Thursday denounced a barrage of warlike threats from North Korea as a "useless" tactic, making it clear that Pyongyang will face consequences if it follows through with an expected missile launch.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have remained on high alert with North Korea expected to test-launch at least one mid-range ballistic missile in the coming days. The North has stepped up its fiery rhetoric following the latest U.N. sanctions that punished Pyongyang for conducting its third nuclear test in February.

Since then, North Korea declared a "state of war" against South Korea, announced that it would restart a mothballed plutonium-producing reactor, threatened to carry out a nuclear attack against the U.S. and temporarily suspended operations at the inter-Korean industrial park. 

"North Korea must immediately stop these useless threats of provocations, enter into a table of dialogue and make the right choices," Seoul's foreign ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said.

Cho described such threats by North Korea a part of its propaganda and psychological warfare to further raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"It would not be appropriate to be unnecessarily concerned or stirred by these actions by North Korea. With this in mind, the Korean government is dealing with the issue in a calm manner and making efforts to be ready for all possibilities," Cho said.

Even with the previous patterns of provocations from North Korea, the recent threats appeared to move beyond rhetoric as the North told foreign diplomats in Pyongyang last week that it won't guarantee their safety in case of war. On Tuesday, North Korea warned foreigners in South Korea that they need to consider evacuating because the Korean Peninsula is on the brink of a nuclear war.

However, Cho rebutted the North's threats against foreigners in both Seoul and Pyongyang, by saying that the North will gain nothing from threats and provocations.

"To my knowledge, no embassies in Seoul and Pyongyang are preparing to leave, and I think it is evidence that the Korean government and the international community are dealing with the situation in a stable manner," Cho said.

Seoul officials said North Korea has completed preparations to launch two mid-range Musudan ballistic missiles from its eastern coast.

Asked whether the U.N. would take action if North Korea fires off the Musudan missile, Cho replied, "I understand that North Korea is banned from conducting any launch using ballistic missile technology. If North Korea violates this stipulation, the U.N. Security Council will discuss what next steps to take." (Yonhap News)