The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday condemned the United States for its "dangerous attempt" to disarm the DPRK and stifle it with nuclear weapons.

According to the official newspaper Rodong Sinmun, the US Department of Defense on Sept.10 published a "draft doctrine for joint nuclear operations," under which the field army commanders may ask the US president to allow the use of nuclear weapons in emergency cases for mounting a preemptive attack on an enemy's weapons of mass destruction and dangerous conventional weapons.

"It is to disarm the DPRK and stifle it with nuke. The US attempt to amend the doctrine is a climax of its open nuclear threat and a move to stifle the DPRK," the newspaper said in signed commentary.

The commentary said the US doctrine is a dangerous attempt to drastically widen the scope of using nuclear weapons and thus justify its preemptive use of nuclear weapons in any region and country when necessary.

This was intended to trample down with nuke those anti-US independent countries which stand firm against its pressure and threat, the commentary said.

"What is all the more serious is that the first target of the doctrine is none other than the DPRK," it said.

"The DPRK cannot remain indifferent toward the US attempt at a preemptive nuclear attack and will steadily strengthen its war deterrent to defend national sovereignty and security with supreme vigilance," the commentary said.

Source: Xinhua