Itvowed "a just retaliatorystrikeoperation, not onlyagainstalltheinterceptormeans involved, but against the strongholds" of the United States, South Korea andJapan.
SEOUL, SouthKorea (AP) North Koreavowed on Thursday to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the United States, amplifying its threatening rhetoric hours ahead of a vote by U.N. diplomats on whether to level new sanctions against Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test.