North Korea has threatened a preemptive nuclear strike against the U.S.

The North’s Minister of Armed Forces Pak Yong-sik warned Washington on Wednesday not to "misjudge" the regime, amid mounting speculations of additional missile provocations on Thursday, which is the 64th anniversary of the signing of Korean War armistice agreement.

In a speech at a rally to commemorate the anniversary, Pak was quoted by the North’s official news agency as saying if enemies misunderstand their strategic status and stick to options of staging a preemptive nuclear attack against it, the North will launch a nuclear attack on the U.S. "without warning or prior notice."

Top leaders in the North’s ruling party, government and the military attended the meeting except for the regime leader Kim Jong-un.

Among those present were President Kim Yong-nam of the North Korean Supreme People's Assembly, Hwang Pyong-so, chief of the general political bureau of the Korean People's Army and Premier Pak Pong-ju.

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