Pyongyang warned Saturday that if the United States launched a preemptive attack against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), it would take defensive measures involving all means.

The US is reportedly contemplating deploying a carrier flotilla and one task brigade equipped with new transport aircraft and other strategic means in Pearl Harbor under the pretext of "threat" from the DPRK, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary broadcast.

Also, a provocative anti-DPRK war scenario dubbed "5030" was said to be in the making by the US Defense Department, the commentary said.

"This is a part of the United States' extremely reckless preparations to launch a nuclear war, pursuant to its strategy for a preemptive attack, going beyond the phase of 'deterrence' that has been maintained so far while shunning the DPRK's new, bold proposal," the KCNA said.

The US had massively bolstered its troops in and around South Korea, including the publication of an "arms buildup plan" for its forces present in South Korea, and in the deployment of weapons and armies around the Korean Peninsula, it added.

"It is quite clear that these dangerous military moves being staged by the US, behind the scene of 'multilateral talks', are aimed at mounting a surprise attack on the DPRK", the commentary said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2003)