SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea threatened Saturday to boost its nuclear fighting capability and make the United States and South Korea pay “an unimaginably harsh price” as it slammed its rivals’ new defense guidelines that it says reveal an intention to invade the North.
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol authorized the signing of joint nuclear deterrence guidelines as part of efforts to enhance their capabilities to cope with North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal. The guidelines were adopted a year after the two countries established a consultation body to bolster information-sharing on nuclear operations and discuss how to integrate U.S. nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons in contingencies.
In a statement carried by state media, North Korea’s Defense Ministry said the U.S.-South Korea guidelines betrayed “their sinister intention to step up their preparations for a nuclear war against” North Korea.
The statement said its enemies’ escalating nuclear threats urgently require North Korea to further improve its nuclear deterrent readiness and add unspecified “important elements to the composition of the deterrent.” It said the U.S. and South Korea will “pay an unimaginably harsh price” if they fail to stop provocative acts.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Sunday called North Korea’s statement “sophistry,” saying the guidelines would not have been needed if there were no North Korean nuclear threats. The South Korean Defense Ministry warned in a statement that any attempt by North Korea to use nuclear weapons will invite an overwhelming response by the South Korean-U.S. alliance and result in the end of the North’s government.
Details of the U.S.-South Korean guidelines weren't available, but experts say they are largely about how the two countries would integrate U.S. nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons to respond to various potential contingencies caused by North Korean attacks and provocations. Experts say the U.S. and South Korea are expected to map out detailed concept and operation plans based on the guidelines and review them via bilateral military exercises.
The guidelines are the first of their kind between the allies. The U.S. has repeatedly promised to use all its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to protect South Korea if it is attacked by North Korea, but many experts in South Korea believe the U.S. lacks plans on how it would implement its extended deterrence to its ally. South Korea has no nuclear weapons.
North Korea has argued it was forced to pursue nuclear weapons to deal with U.S.-led nuclear threats. American and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of attacking North Korea.
Concerns about North Korea's nuclear program have grown in recent years as the North performed a slew of provocative missile tests and openly threatened to use nuclear weapons preemptively in potential conflicts with its adversaries.
FILE - A North Korean flag flutters in North Korea's village Gijungdong as seen from a South Korea's observation post inside the demilitarized zone in Paju, South Korea during a media tour, March 3, 2023. North Korea threatened Saturday, July 13, 2024, to boost its nuclear fighting capability and get the U.S. and South Korea to face “an unimaginably harsh price” as it slammed its rivals’ new defense guidelines that it says revealed an intention to invade the North. (Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool Photo via AP, File)
MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Sánchez doubled twice and drove in three runs, and the Miami Marlins beat Shohei Ohtani and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Tuesday night.
Ohtani struck out three times but hit his 48th home run as he tries to become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He did not steal a base for the fifth straight game and remains at 48.
Sánchez went 5 for 5, while Otto Lopez and Jake Burger homered for the Marlins.
Connor Norby became the first Marlin with four runs scored in a single game this season. He went 2 for 3 with a single, double and two walks. Kyle Stowers had an RBI triple in the fourth and added a run-scoring double in the sixth for the Marlins, who had 15 hits.
Max Muncy singled in a run, doubled and stole a base for the Dodgers, who began the day 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego, which was set to play Houston later Tuesday.
Reliever Anthony Veneziano picked up his first major league win after striking out two and allowing one hit over 1 1/3 inning.
The Marlins scored four runs in the first two innings off starter Bobby Miller, who was lifted after allowing seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Dodgers responded with a four-run third jumpstarted by Ohtani's two-run shot against starter Darren McCaughan that he crushed 402 feet to right.
Michael Grove (4-4) took the loss after relieving Miller in the third and giving up a go-ahead RBI double to Sánchez in the fourth that made it 6-5. Sánchez then scored on Stowers' triple, and the Marlins didn't relinquish their lead from there.
McCaughan pitched 3 2/3 innings, surrendering six hits, five runs and striking out four. Miguel Rojas also homered off McCaughan in the fourth that tied it at five.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said RHP Tony Gonsolin will make another rehab start soon and could rejoin the team if that goes well. Gonsolin hasn't pitched since having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August.
Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara threw his first live batting practice since having Tommy John surgery in October. ... LHP Braxton Garrett allowed three hits in five innings and 80 pitches in a start for Triple-A Jacksonville.
UP NEXT
Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-4, 3.70 ERA) will start the second game of the series. The Marlins have not named a starter yet, but manager Skip Schumaker said Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.55) will likely be on the mound.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) scores on a sacrifice hit by Freddie Freeman during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) a triple to center field during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers hits a triple to right field during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas (11) celebrates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez gestures after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Jesús Sánchez (12) hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
