North Korea Threatens ‘Unimaginable’ Strike On United States; Japan Terrified 

Another day, another threat by North Korea to stage an "unimaginable" strike on the US amid tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

"The US is running amok by introducing under our nose the targets we have set as primary ones. The US should expect it would face unimaginable strike at an unimaginable time," the North's Korean Central News Agency said Thursday.

The "targets" under North Korea's "nose" refer to joint US and South Korean drills in waters off the Korean Peninsula with the US aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan.

The military exercises run through Oct. 26. and come as President Trump has threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if the reclusive state resorts to using weapons against the U.S. or its allies. Pyongyang has repeatedly used dramatic language to threaten Washington. Trump has responded with inflammatory rhetoric.

North Korea fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July and conducted its sixth, and most powerful, nuclear test last month. Experts disagree on how advanced its weapons program is, and whether it would match its words with action.

Diplomats from the US, South Korea and Japan met in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss how to respond to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said Washington views diplomacy as the primary means for solving the crisis, but it must be prepared for "any eventuality."

According to a new NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll published Thursday, a majority of Americans (54%) — Republicans and Democrats — view North Korea as the most immediate threat to the country. That represents a shift since July, when 41% of Americans viewed North Korea as the greatest immediate threat. The Islamic State terror group came in second, at 19%, down from 28% in July.

Japan On Alert For North Korea Nuclear Test Worse Than Fukushima

Terrified Japanese residents fear North Korea may trigger a nuclear disaster more devastating than the Fukushima calamity by testing a hydrogen bomb.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has called the threat posed by Kim Jong-un's regime a “national crisis” that only he can solve.

Abe has taken an aggressive approach to North Korea in the hope it will win him votes in Sunday’s snap election.

But his comments have done little to alleviate the helplessness felt by thousands of residents.

“When it's launched, it could land here just moments later,” Kawamura said. “There's nowhere to hide.”

North Korea has threatened to “sink” Japan and vowed to plough on with developing missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

Abe has taken a tough stance, branding the nation a “grave threat” and backing Donald Trump’s suggestions of military action.

Speaking at a rally last week, he said: “They promised in 1994 and again in 2005 that they would abandon their nuclear programme.

“But they have broken their word and developed nuclear devices and missiles.

“We're not going to be deceived anymore."

But Haruki Suminoya, head of Erimo's fishing union, has warned that being overly aggressive towards North Korea may provoke a reaction.

“Abe's approach is too strong, too hardline,” he said. “A more restrained approach is better.”

In September North Korea threatened to explode a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

Local Japanese fishermen are worried such a detonation could contaminate the water, much like the Fukushima nuclear disaster did in 2011.

"The radiation would make all the fish inedible," said Narita, an elderly fisherman. "Like in Fukushima, we couldn't do our jobs.”