North Korea, which says it has built nuclear weapons, accused the US of exerting military pressure on the Stalinist country and of driving six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program to breaking-point.

"So thick clouds of war are hanging above the Korean Peninsula and a touch-and-go situation is prevailing on the peninsula," the North's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary.

"Convinced that peace is defended only by arms, the army and people of the DPRK (North Korea) are now in full preparedness to answer a preemptive attack with a relentless annihilating strike and a nuclear war with a mighty nuclear deterrent."

North Korea has since November boycotted the six-nation talks on ending its atomic drive, saying it will only come back to the table after the US lifts financial sanctions.

Tensions have recently flared with North Korea allegedly preparing to test fire a Taepodong 2 long-range missile, which has a potential range capable of reaching the US mainland.

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