PYONGYANG, July 11. /TASS/. North Korea will take "the most decisive physical counter-measures" in response to deployment of US missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula, the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said on Monday.

North Korea’s forces "are capable of taking consistent unrelenting and powerful actions against the United States that is preparing to unleash a war by using THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system," Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the General Staff as saying. The General Staff also warned that it will "turn South Korea into the sea of fire as it agreed to deploy this system on its territory, if a corresponding order is received."

North Korea’s army will "strengthen its potential to ensure protection of peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in North East Asia," the General Staff added.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced last week that Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy THAAD in South Korea to counter the threat from North Korea. Russia and China have spoken against the deployment of US missile defense system in South Korea. "Such actions, no matter how they are explained, very negatively affect global strategic security, adherence to which is so often discussed by Washington. They may also result in escalation of tensions in the region, new difficulties for resolving acute problems of the Korean Peninsula, including the task of its denuclearization," Russian Foreign Ministry said last Friday.