North Korea threatens US, South Korea as joint military drills begin

North Korea is threatening to turn South Korea and the United States into a — and I quote — "heap of ashes through a Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike."

The threat comes as South Korea and the US are kicking off a 12-day military exercise, and as word comes that Pyongyang had resumed plutonium production earlier this year.

Here's US correspondent Liling Tan on these developments.

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Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook says the U.S. takes North Korea seriously, but these are regularly scheduled exercises.

IN: "Prudent planning....
OUT: ...would welcome."
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