Norks Saber-Rattling

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- "North Korea warned on Wednesday that increased U.S. pressure over the regime's reported nuclear test could be considered an act of war, and South Korea suggested it would build up its conventional arsenal to deal with its belligerent neighbor.

North Korea's No. 2 leader threatened to conduct more nuclear tests if the United States continued what he called its "hostile attitude."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States would not attack North Korea, rejecting a suggestion that Pyongyang may feel it needs nuclear weapons to stave off an Iraq-style U.S. invasion.

In its first formal statement since the test, North Korea said it could respond to U.S. pressure with "physical" measures.

"The issue of future nuclear tests is linked to U.S. policy toward our country," Kim was quoted as saying when asked whether Pyongyang will conduct more nuclear tests.

"If the United States continues to take a hostile attitude and apply pressure on us in various forms, we will have no choice but to take physical steps to deal with that," Kyodo quoted him as saying.

South Korea's defense minister said that Seoul could enlarge its conventional arsenal to deal with a potentially nuclear-armed North Korea.

"If North Korea really has the (nuclear) capabilities, we will improve and enlarge the number of conventional weapons as long as it doesn't violate the principle of denuclearization," Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told parliament.

"We will supplement (our ability) to conduct precision strikes against storage facilities and intercept delivery means, while also improving the system of having military units and individuals defend themselves," he said."

Classic signs of a mental breakdown. Not content with making a statement then going to the bargaining table, North Korea wishes to prove to the world that not only does the technology suck, but their thinking does as well. And I won't go there about Condi mewling how we won't attack them, except to say that each and every time two opposing viewpoints are at the brink, she's the first to blink.