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North Korea threatened to attack South Korea if Seoul joined a new round of tightened UN sanctions, as Washington unveiled more of its own economic restrictions following Pyongyang's rocket launch last month.
The North directed its verbal onslaught at its neighbour yesterday, saying: "Sanctions mean a war and a declaration of war against us."
The North has declared a boycott of all dialogue aimed at ending its nuclear programme and vowed to conduct more rocket and nuclear tests after the UN Security Council censured it for a December long-range missile launch.
"If the puppet group of traitors takes a direct part in the UN sanctions, the DPRK will take strong physical counter-measures against it," the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said.
Beatle's old sheep
Paul McCartney has confessed he is embarrassed when visitors see the state of his sheep – because they live to be so old on his farm.
The vegetarian musician keeps a flock at his property, but as he refuses to send them to an abattoir they are there until they die of old age.
Cops call prostitute
A US woman drove 50 miles to reach the man she thought was her client after being solicited for prostitution through phone and text messages. But there was something unusual about the destination – it was the Salem Police Department in Oregon.
Christal Smith (20) walked past several uniformed officers and signs reading Salem Police Department before arriving at an unmarked door, where she tried to contact her client. Instead, she was arrested.
Cleaning Fairy returns
The woman dubbed the Cleaning Fairy of Ohio is back – and has found winter work.
Last June, Susan Warren, of Elyria, was prosecuted for allegedly breaking into a home, cleaning it and leaving a bill for $75 (€55). Now she has reportedly been arrested again – this time for shovelling snow off a stranger's driveway.
Blind husky keeps job
It seemed the days of pulling sledges with other Alaskan huskies were all over for Gonzo when he started going blind – but he is back on the trail in New Hampshire with a little help from his brother Poncho.
Gonzo, one of 120 dogs at Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel, has resumed his place pulling a sledge to the delight of tourists. And he leans into Poncho to sense where the turns are.
Irish Independent
