ALERT ~ N.Korea Threatens Nuclear War While Calling for Improved Ties with South

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calls for improved ties with its rival South Korea while warning against a nuclear war in his New Year's address.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for improved relations with South Korea in a New Year speech on Wednesday.

Carried by the North's state television, the address largely mirrored last year's, but made no indications that he was ready to initiate concrete steps to end acrimony.

North and South Korea remain technically at war under a truce that ended the 1950 to 53 Korean War signed by the United States, China and the North.





The United States maintains over 28-thousand troops in the South in joint defence against the North.

Kim warns of nuclear war if the South and the U.S. commit acts of aggression.

Their annual military drills have caused tensions as the North accuses them of making war preparations, although the exercises have been conducted for decades.

A naval exercise by the South in 2010 near the tensely disputed maritime border off the west coast, triggered artillery shelling of a South Korean island by the North that killed civilians.

Last month, Pyongyang repeated a threat to warn to strike Seoul without notice.

Kim also made the first reference to the deadly purge of his powerful uncle, saying the reclusive state's ruling party has become stronger after it was cleansed of "factional filth".



Kim took power after the death of his father in 2011 and was helped by his uncle Jang Song Thaek, who acted as regent ensuring his young nephew established himself in power.