WASHINGTON D.C. – North Korea today warned that Japan would "not be exempt" from a pre-emptive nuclear strike, following announcements by the U.S. government that it was expanding its own missile defense systems in the region.

An article in the official North Korean Workers’ Party newspaper the Rodong denounced Japanese calls for “independent additional sanctions” following Pyongyang's third nuclear test in February. Japan, the article argued, is using the nuclear test as an excuse to increase its military presence in the region.