North Korea has responded angrily to the South's suggestion that it could launch a pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang's nuclear facilities.

韩国政府称要对平壤核设施进行先发制人的打击，朝鲜政府对此表示愤怒。

North Korea's nuclear programme has heightened regional tensions

South Korea's defence minister had said this could occur if there were indications显示，标志 that the North was preparing a nuclear attack.

The North's official news agency said any attempt to do so would be treated as a declaration of war宣战.

It added that it would be met with swift and decisive military action.

Tensions between the two nations rose after Pyongyang pulled out of拉出，退出 six-party talks on its nuclear programme last April following widespread condemnation谴责，定罪 of a long-range missile launch.

International pressure grew following a nuclear test in May - which drew UN sanctions制裁 and further missile tests.

Conditions

The six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, plus the United States, China, Japan and Russia, began in 2003.

They seek to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and security guarantees.

Late last year, North Korea said it may be willing to return to the talks.

But earlier this month Pyongyang set down记下，放下 conditions, saying it would not return to the stalled失速的 talks until sanctions against it were lifted.