The sister of the North Korean leader: If South Korea attacks us, we will strike it with nuclear weapons!

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement carried by state media on Tuesday that Pyongyang would target South Korea with its "nuclear combat power" if it was attacked.

"If South Korea chooses a military confrontation with us, our nuclear combat forces will definitely have to do their duty," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

According to a senior official in the ruling Workers' Party, North Korea will never be struck first.

"But if for any reason South Korea chooses such a military action as the preemptive strike that (Defense Minister Suh Wook) promoted, the situation will change," she added.

"In this case, South Korea itself will become a target," the German news agency DPA said.

Last week, Kim Yo Jong criticized Suh for his comments on the country's offensive capabilities against North Korea, accusing him of making reckless statements about a "pre-emptive strike."

It said at the time that South Korea risked posing a "serious threat" but did not elaborate.

On Friday, Suh said publicly that Seoul's armed forces have the ability to "accurately and rapidly" attack Pyongyang's missile launch point as well as its command centers as soon as there are clear signs of an attack on South Korea.

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