North Korea has issued a warning to the United States of a nuclear strike after accusing the US of stepping "over the line" in their attempts to remove Kim Jong-un.
Pyongyang state media KCNA released a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which said "the US harbours an illusion that it could separate our army and people from our supreme leadership."
The statement comes after CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration is looking to find a way to separate Kim Jong-un from his nuclear weaponry.
"It has now become clear that the ultimate aim of the Trump administration's hostile policy towards the DPRK is the "regime change," the ministry said.
"Our army and people have never thought about their destiny and future separated from their supreme leadership.
"The DPRK legally stipulates that if the supreme dignity of the DPRK is threatened, it must pre-emptively annihilate those countries and entities that are directly or indirectly involved in it, by mobilizing all kinds of strikes means including the nuclear ones."
No individual officials are attributed to statement but it goes on to warn the US directly.
"We will find out and smash all those who intend to do something against our supreme leadership," it reads.
"Should the US dare to show even the slightest sign of attempt to remove our supreme leadership, we will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US."
The warning comes after Chinese authorities mobilised more troops along the 1400km long Chinese-North Korean border in recent days, according to reports.
Newshub.
