N.Korea warns ex-S.Korean president of death 'any time'

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - The North Korean government has threatened former South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her former spy chief with a "miserable dog's death" at any time and place.

Pyongyang's warning was relayed by state-run media Wednesday as it alleged Park and her National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Lee Byung-ho plotted to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- and asked that they be handed over for punishment.

The North was widely accused of being behind the murder of Kim's half-brother Kim Jong-nam using VX nerve agent at a Malaysian airport in February, but Park is not likely to be walking freely in any public spaces soon because she is currently detained in South Korea while on trial following her expulsion from her post in March stemming from a massive corruption scandal.

"(They) can never make any appeal even though they meet miserable dog's death any time, at any place and by whatever methods from this moment," cautioned North Korean security and prosecution authorities in a joint statement via the KCNA news agency.

The reclusive state claimed in May the NIS, along with intelligence agents from the U.S., had been planning to kill North Korea's Supreme Leader, who is protected from even the slightest insult in his homeland.

"We do not hide that should the U.S. and the South Korean authorities defy this warning and challenge our resolute measure, they will be made to pay a dear price in an irresistible physical way," the North's statement added.

The NIS responded by dismissing Pyongyang's message as "groundless," insisting Seoul will not tolerate threats against its citizens, according to local news agency Yonhap.