North Korea warned Wednesday that the United States is now within the range of its strategic rockets and atomic weapons, and stressed it is now a country that can protect itself from foreign aggression.

An article carried by Uriminzokkiri, North Korea's propaganda Web site, said that the U.S. should not think it is safe because it is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

The report, monitored in Seoul, said that if Washington persists in trying to suffocate North Korea with hostile policies, the North Korean military and its people will erase the country from the face of the earth.

[link to english.yonhapnews.co.kr]

"The United States should be acutely aware that the U.S. mainland is now well within the range of our strategic rockets and nuclear weapons," the signed commentary said.

[link to www.naharnet.com]