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North Korea says it will deal "a merciless military strike" against the US and its allies if provoked.

The warning carried by the North''s government-run Minju Joson newspaper is the latest in its rhetoric against Washington and comes hours after the US and South Korea held a summit.

The paper said in a commentary Wednesday the North will launch a massive "merciless military strike" if the US and its allies "infringe upon the republic''s sovereignty even a bit."

South Korea''s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper reports Wednesday the North has begun withdrawing money from bank accounts in the Chinese territory of Macau and elsewhere to avoid being frozen under new UN sanctions.

Separately, Japan''s Sankei newspaper said the North may be preparing two sites from where a long-range missile could be launched.