This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 8, 2012 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) saluting to pilots during a flight training at Unit 1017 of the Air and Anti-Air Forces of the Korean People's Army. (Photo credit STR/AFP/GettyImages)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea says South Korea, Japan, Guam and the U.S. mainland are within range of its missiles.
An unidentified spokesman at the North's powerful National Defense Commission issued the statement Tuesday in response to South Korea's recent announcement that the U.S. agreed to let it have longer-range missiles capable of hitting all of North Korea.
It's unusual for North Korea to say its missiles are capable of striking the U.S., but the country has regularly issued harsh rhetoric against Seoul and Washington.
Seoul-based analyst Koh Yu-hwan says the North had no choice but to respond to South Korea's extended missile range but it won't likely launch a provocation.
The North Korean spokesman said South Korea's extended missile range shows the allies are plotting to "ignite a war" against the North.
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Associated Press