# data[].attributes.body
An eagle-eyed Massachusetts state trooper and a DNA match on the victim's hands led police to arrest the man suspected of killing Vanessa Marcotte eight months after she disappeared while jogging near her mother's Princeton, Massachusetts, home, officials said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An eagle-eyed Massachusetts state trooper and a DNA match on the victim's hands led police to arrest the man suspected of killing Vanessa Marcotte eight months after she disappeared while jogging near her mother's Princeton, Massachusetts, home, officials said.

On Aug. 7, 2016, 27-year-old Marcotte, an account manager at Google in New York, went for a jog in Princeton, a town about 60 miles west of Boston, and never returned. Her body was found that night in a wooded area about half a mile from her mother's home. Marcotte had planned to return home to New York that night, officials said.

On Friday, Angelo Colon-Ortiz, 31, of Worcester, was arrested in connection with the killing after his DNA matched samples from Marcotte's hands, said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

Police found Colon-Ortiz after a Massachusetts state trooper spotted a man matching the suspect's description driving a dark SUV in Worcester, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.

The trooper didn't have paper, so he "wrote the license plate number down on his hand and followed up," the district attorney's office said. "He later went to the suspect's home ... where suspect provided the DNA that led to the match."

Marcotte's cousins, Caroline Tocci and Steve Vittorioso, told ABC News they weren't surprised that the 27-year-old helped catch her own alleged killer by getting his DNA.

"Vanessa is a fighter," Vittorioso said. "I know that she was doing everything she can. She really tried to persevere. ... She is our role model."

Worcester County District Attorneys Office via AP Photo

"Vanessa was my cousin, but she was my sister," Tocci explained. "She was an only child so she grew up with me and my sisters, as well as Steve, and we were all very close. She was my other half."

"We're very proud of her strength and what she did," Tocci said. "We know how strong of a person she is and every day we strive to be more like her."

Early said the arrest "was the result of hard work by police who tirelessly investigated this case from the day of Ms. Marcotte's death."

Investigators had received more than 1,300 tips in the case, the district attorney's office said.

Christine Peterson/AP Photo

A suspect now in custody has brought the family some peace, Tocci said, but she added, "Our goal now is just helping other women who are in these situations."

The family has established the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, which Tocci said promotes female safety awareness and aims to tackle the "societal issue ... of the objectification of women" and reduce violence by promoting gender equality.

"Vanessa did nothing wrong. She was running during daylight on a road that she's run on thousands of times," Tocci said. "It's just being aware of your surroundings and being cognizant that this could happen anywhere. It doesn't matter your class, it doesn't matter your race, it could happen to anyone. You have to live fearlessly, but you have to just be safe, as well."

Vittorioso added, "We want women just to continue on with their lives and keep doing what they're doing on a daily basis and not be scared to go for a run at 5 o'clock in the morning ... and just to continue on what they love doing."

"We're going to take this energy and really channel it into the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation," Vittorioso said, "and use that as a great way just to keep her spirit alive, just because Vanessa means the world to us."

Colon-Ortiz, who was not resistant when he was arrested, the district attorney's office said, has been charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with attempt to rape. Early said additional charges are expected. He is being held on $10 million bail and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How state trooper, DNA helped catch Mass. jogger's alleged killer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An eagle-eyed Massachusetts state trooper and a DNA match on the victim's hands led police to arrest the man suspected of killing Vanessa Marcotte eight months after she disappeared while jogging near her mother's Princeton, Massachusetts, home, officials said. On Aug.

# data[].attributes.body
Playoff upset rankings: Which top seeds will fall?

Three road teams won Game 1 and they are all trying to double up on Tuesday. Which underdog has the best chance of advancing and which one has the worst? Kevin Pelton breaks down the odds.

# data[].attributes.body
President Donald Trump is claiming he cannot be sued now that he has won the White House

# data[].attributes.body
Police said Henao, 36, was arrested with a backpack containing more than 100 mobile phones, which were believed to have been stolen from the concert site, located east of Los Angeles near Palm Springs.

# data[].attributes.body
photographer and activist helps victims in syria

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war.

It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

And it happened again last weekend, when a bomb hit a convoy of buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian villages, killing 126 people.

Photographer and activist Abd Alkader Habak was there working and was briefly knocked out by the blast. When he came to, he began trying to help the wounded.

"The scene was horrible -- especially seeing children wailing and dying in front of you," Habak told CNN. "So I decided along with my colleagues that we'd put our cameras aside and start rescuing injured people."

The first child he checked on was dead.

He ran towards another. Someone shouted at him to stay away -- the child was already dead, they said.

But he wasn't. Habak could see the boy was barely breathing.

He picked him up and began to run towards safety. His camera was still on, recording the chaos.

"This child was firmly holding my hand and looking at me," he said.

An image taken by another photographer, Muhammad Alrageb, shows Habak dashing towards an ambulance, the child and his camera in his arms.

Algareb said he also helped some of the injured but then began taking photos.

"I wanted to film everything to make sure there was accountability," he said. Also, he added, "I feel proud that there was a young journalist there helping save lives."

Habak said he left the injured boy, who must have been only 6 or 7, at the ambulance. He doesn't know if the boy survived.

Then he ran back to scene of the bombing to help others. He came across another child on the ground. This one, too, was dead -- one of 68 children killed in the attack.

Overwhelmed, Habak collapsed.

An image, shot by another photographer, shows him on his knees sobbing near the boy's body.

"I was overcome with emotion," he told CNN. "What I and my colleagues witnessed is indescribable."

CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this story.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Donie O'Sullivan and Waffa Munayyer, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Syria photographer puts down camera, picks up injured boy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war. It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Leave it to Elon Musk to drop a bombshell just as we're all getting ready for the weekend. The always provocative Tesla CEO took to Twitter last Friday, April 14, to announce plans to introduce the automaker's first venture into the world of semi- trucks this coming September. The news itself isn't groundbreaking since Musk already laid out what the company's intentions were back in July 2016 as part of its "Master Plan, Part Deux" mission. But, until late last week, those plans were of the vague persuasion, devoid of any specific timetable.

Well, the timetable has arrived...and it's literally five months from now.
Not one to be caught saying too much in the way of juicy details, Musk kept the announcement short and sweet, opting only to say that the "team has done an amazing job," presumably in the development of the semi-truck and that the vehicle itself is "seriously next level." Those statements aren't much to go by at this point, but the mere hint that we're closer to seeing the actual vehicle - even if it's a prototype - so soon after its announcement is pretty indicative of the company's intentions in staking its name into the electric semi truck arena.

At this point, the waiting game now begins on more details surrounding the semi-truck. If Musk's past comments about the development are anything to go by, expect the Tesla Semi - or whatever name it ends up getting - to "deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate."
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Plenty of expectations that Tesla has to live up to

This is obviously exciting news considering where Tesla is right now as an automaker. Despite having fewer means than most major auto brands, Tesla has found a way to not only remain relevant but, for better or worse, become front page news altogether. Now that the spotlight is on regarding its plans to develop an electric semi-truck, a lot of people will have its eyes on the company to see how far along development is and when these vehicles are actually going to make their debuts.

See, those who know Tesla know that the company is prone to delays when it comes to the development of its vehicles. That's not to say that we can expect some kind of delays with regards to the electric semi trucks, but the automaker's history suggests that it's due for one or two of them at some point. The good news is that these delays won't matter if Tesla ends up introducing a vehicle that can live up to the hype and expectations that people will have of it. So far, Tesla has proven itself in that regard with both Model S and Model X units becoming successes in their own right, warts and all.

More importantly for Tesla here is how it will be able to develop its electric semi trucks to stand out from the competition. Remember, the company isn't the first manufacturer to venture into this world. Dutch manufacturer Terberg already has electric semis that are used by companies like BMW to deliver parts to its production facility in Munich, Germany. Other firms like Nikola Motor have also looked into developing EV semis, only to turn its attention to developing trucks that run on hydrogen.

Whatever this market looks like in the future, we can all agree that Tesla's electric semi truck will play a big role in shaping it. That's a lot of expectations, but knowing Tesla, that's exactly the position the company, or at least its outspoken CEO, wants to be in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tesla's Semi To Debut In September, But Will It Live Up To The Hype?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Leave it to Elon Musk to drop a bombshell just as we're all getting ready for the weekend. The always provocative Tesla CEO took to Twitter last Friday, April 14, to announce plans to introduce the automaker's first venture into the world of semi- trucks this coming September.

# data[].attributes.body
Kyrie Irving passes Mark Price on all-time Cavs playoff scoring list

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On Monday night in game two of the Eastern Conference playoffs Kyrie Irving become the second-highest playoff scorer in Cleveland Cavaliers history.

Irving, a point guard himself, passed legendary Cavs point guard Mark Price for second all-time on the Cavaliers playoff scoring list. You can take a good guess as to who number one is.

With 821 career playoff points, @KyrieIrving is now the second-leading scorer in #CavsHistory! #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/8LVwmFa4F0

- Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 18, 2017

At just 25, Irving is already vaulting himself up a prestigious list of all-time great Cavaliers.

Mark Price even took to Twitter to congratulate Irving on the awesome feat.

Congrats to @KyrieIrving for passing me on all time @cavs playoff points list! #PointGuards #Shooters

- Mark Price (@Mark25Price) April 18, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kyrie Irving passes Mark Price on all-time Cavs playoff scoring list

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On Monday night in game two of the Eastern Conference playoffs Kyrie Irving become the second-highest playoff scorer in Cleveland Cavaliers history. Irving, a point guard himself, passed legendary Cavs point guard Mark Price for second all-time on the Cavaliers playoff scoring list. You can take a good guess as to who number one is.

# data[].attributes.body
The woman dialed 911 Sunday afternoon in Cleveland after murder suspect Steve Stephens allegedly gunned down 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. and later posted a video of the killing on Facebook, according to police.

# data[].attributes.body
Dubai Will Be Launching Passenger-Carrying Drone Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dubai Will Be Launching Passenger-Carrying Drone Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We first talked about the EHang 184 earlier this year and it looks like there is some more news to look out for the driverless drone. Dubai has announced a successful test flight of a passenger drone and is looking to have a drone transportation service by July 2017.

# data[].attributes.body
Oregon man dies 'peacefully' after told Trump was impeached

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Oregon man dies 'peacefully' after told Trump was impeached

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An Oregon man died peacefully after his ex-wife told him President Trump had been impeached.

# data[].attributes.body
5-STAR SF RECRUIT KEVIN KNOX TURNED DOWN $1.4 MILLION DEAL TO PLAY IN CHINA

# data[].attributes.body
Missing 17 year old in Idaho still looking after he disappeared after prom Friday night.

# data[].attributes.body
Family of 93 year old father shot dead speak about their mourning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
That's how Tammy Godwin found out that her father, Robert Godwin Sr., had been shot to death.

"My mom ... called my house phone. When I picked up the phone she was screaming," Tammy Godwin told CNN's Don Lemon on Monday night. "And she said, 'Your father is dead.'"

The Godwin family is coming to grips with the cold-blooded slaying, a killing seen by untold numbers of people after his suspected killer posted video of the shooting to Facebook.

Robert Godwin, 74, was killed Sunday while walking down the sidewalk on a Cleveland street. Steve Stephens, 37, is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Godwin, a former manufacturing worker, self-taught mechanic, father of 10 and grandfather of 14.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has said Stephens apparently chose Godwin at random. Law enforcement nationwide are on high alert in the hunt for Stephens, Williams told reporters Monday.

A broken heart

Tammy Godwin said after getting that call she ran down to her mother's house, just a few doors down, not being able to fully comprehend the news she was just told.

"He took our dad. I can't believe I'm never going to talk to my father no more," she said, in tears. "I can't believe I'm never going to be able to call my father no more. My heart is just broke."

Tammy Godwin wanted to make sure her father's killer knew just what was taken from them -- a good man who was the rock of his family.

One of Robert Godwin's sons said he was greatly disturbed by how the killer carried out his awful deed.

"What happened to my father was horrific," Robby Miller said. "I wouldn't wish that on anybody. The man who videotaped my father getting shot stripped him of his dignity. And to post it online for the whole world to see? I'm just angry."

Miller stressed, though, that despite their hurt and anger, the family wants justice, not vengeance.

"No, I don't want that man to die, I want him brought to justice," he said. "One thing I do want to say, is that I forgive (the killer)."

Miller urged the suspect to turn himself in, saying he'd done enough damage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
cleveland facebook killing: robert godwin's family is reeling after death - cnn.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Family of man killed in Facebook video says he was 'stripped of his dignity'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
That's how Tammy Godwin found out that her father, Robert Godwin Sr., had been shot to death. "My mom ... called my house phone. When I picked up the phone she was screaming," Tammy Godwin told CNN's Don Lemon on Monday night.

# data[].attributes.body
Family of man who was killed in a Facebook video says he was "stripped of his dignity"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
That's how Tammy Godwin found out that her father, Robert Godwin Sr., had been shot to death.

"My mom ... called my house phone. When I picked up the phone she was screaming," Tammy Godwin told CNN's Don Lemon on Monday night. "And she said, 'Your father is dead.'"

The Godwin family is coming to grips with the cold-blooded slaying, a killing seen by untold numbers of people after his suspected killer posted video of the shooting to Facebook.

Robert Godwin, 74, was killed Sunday while walking down the sidewalk on a Cleveland street. Steve Stephens, 37, is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Godwin, a former manufacturing worker, self-taught mechanic, father of 10 and grandfather of 14.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has said Stephens apparently chose Godwin at random. Law enforcement nationwide are on high alert in the hunt for Stephens, Williams told reporters Monday.

A broken heart

Tammy Godwin said after getting that call she ran down to her mother's house, just a few doors down, not being able to fully comprehend the news she was just told.

"He took our dad. I can't believe I'm never going to talk to my father no more," she said, in tears. "I can't believe I'm never going to be able to call my father no more. My heart is just broke."

Tammy Godwin wanted to make sure her father's killer knew just what was taken from them -- a good man who was the rock of his family.

One of Robert Godwin's sons said he was greatly disturbed by how the killer carried out his awful deed.

"What happened to my father was horrific," Robby Miller said. "I wouldn't wish that on anybody. The man who videotaped my father getting shot stripped him of his dignity. And to post it online for the whole world to see? I'm just angry."

Miller stressed, though, that despite their hurt and anger, the family wants justice, not vengeance.

"No, I don't want that man to die, I want him brought to justice," he said. "One thing I do want to say, is that I forgive (the killer)."

Miller urged the suspect to turn himself in, saying he'd done enough damage.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
cleveland facebook killing: robert godwin's family is reeling after death - cnn.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Family of man killed in Facebook video says he was 'stripped of his dignity'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
That's how Tammy Godwin found out that her father, Robert Godwin Sr., had been shot to death. "My mom ... called my house phone. When I picked up the phone she was screaming," Tammy Godwin told CNN's Don Lemon on Monday night.

# data[].attributes.body
The new oldest person in the world eats what she wants — but no pork and chicken. And the Jamaica-born 117-year-old abstains from what she called “rum and dem tings.”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The new oldest person in the world eats what she wants - but no pork and chicken. And the Jamaica-born 117-year-old abstains from what she called "rum and dem tings."

Born in March 1900, Violet Mosses Brown once told a hometown newspaper that hard work, devotion to the Baptist church and respect for family, life and people in general have helped her live a long and happy life.

"Honor your mother and father so your days may be long," she said, quoting the Old Testament.

"I love the Church," Brown told The Gleaner.

Hailing from the same part of the island as Olympic champion Usain Bolt, Brown on Saturday became the world's oldest person after the death of Emma Morano of Italy.

Baptized at age 13, Brown proudly recalled decades of "staunch contribution" to the church, showing off a plaque she received at age 107 from the Trelawny Baptist Association.

Known affectionately as "Aunt V," Brown told the Jamaica Observer that she "likes fish and mutton and sometimes she will have cow foot." She also likes locally grown produce such as sweet potatoes, breadfruit, oranges and mangoes.

Morano, who passed away at 117, also held a unique place among "supercentenarians" as the last known person to have been born in the 1800s. Born on Nov. 29, 1899, Morano achieved a rare feat, living a life that spanned three centuries. The oldest of eight children, she outlived them all, including a sister who lived to be 102.

Morano credited her longevity to her diet, telling the Italian newspaper La Stampa that she ate a raw egg every day. She also went to bed before 7 p.m. each night, and arose before 6 a.m.

Morano died while sitting in a rocking chair in her home in the Northern Italy town of Verbania, The Associated Press reported. "She didn't suffer," Dr. Carlo Bava told AP. "I'm happy she didn't suffer but passed away that way, tranquilly."
Follow Greg Toppo on Twitter: @gtoppo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'New' world's-oldest-person is a church-loving, Jamaican 117-year-old

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The new oldest person in the world eats what she wants - but no pork and chicken. And the Jamaica-born 117-year-old abstains from what she called "rum and dem tings." Born in March 1900, Violet Mosses Brown once told a hometown newspaper that hard work, devotion to the Baptist church and respect for family, life and people in general have helped her live a long and happy life.

# data[].attributes.body
former Jayhawk Josh Jackson declares for NBA draft

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas freshman Josh Jackson has announced he will enter the NBA draft.

Jackson, who released a statement on Monday, was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He helped the Jayhawks to a 31-5 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

The 6-foot-8 Jackson has signed with former NBA player B.J. Armstrong of Wasserman Media Group.

Jackson arrived at Kansas after a stellar prep career in Detroit and Napa, California. He says in the statement that after "consulting with my family, I have decided to enter the 2017 NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball."

He added that he was thankful for "all of the support I have received from my coaches and teammates at Kansas."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jayhawks' Jackson says he is entering NBA draft

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas freshman Josh Jackson has announced he will enter the NBA draft. Jackson, who released a statement on Monday, was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He helped the Jayhawks to a 31-5 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight.

# data[].attributes.body
Idaho police are looking everywhere for a 17 year old that went miss friday night after his prom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Authorities in Idaho were frantically searching for a 17-year-old boy who vanished Friday after his high school prom.

Orofino police were still searching for Kristian Perez on Monday. Perez apparently left the prom at about 9:30 p.m. and his family has not seen or heard from him since, KREM-TV reported.

Police confirmed that the teen had signed out of the prom at 9:32 p.m. He had gone to the event with a relative and his tuxedo jacket, one shoe and a broken cell phone were recovered near the vehicle.

Police said in a statement they obtained a search warrant to scour through Perez's call records and text messages to try and find out any information that could be useful in their search.

Police, using a K-9 officer, indicated he may have walked from where the prom was being held to a nearby parking lot along U.S. Highway 12 and got into a car.

Lewiston police confirmed they followed up on a possible sighting of Perez in the city, about 40 miles west of Orofino, but surveillance video showed it was not him, Orofino police said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Idaho police on frantic search for teen who vanished after prom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Authorities in Idaho were frantically searching for a 17-year-old boy who vanished Friday after his high school prom. Orofino police were still searching for Kristian Perez on Monday. Perez apparently left the prom at about 9:30 p.m. and his family has not seen or heard from him since, KREM-TV reported.

# data[].attributes.body
Taiwan bans eating dog and cat meat

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Taiwan's progressive ban is part of a growing trend across Asia to end the brutal dog meat trade," said Wendy Higgins with Humane Society International.

"Previously, the Animal Protection Act only covered the slaughter and sale of dog and cat meat, but this amendment specifically prohibiting the actual consumption of dog meat today is welcome," said Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia Foundation.

Individuals who eat or trade dog or cat meat can now be fined between $1,640 and $8,200.

The amendment also bans "walking" the pet on a leash pulled by cars and motorcycles and raises the penalty for cruelty to animals.

Taiwan has doubled the maximum prison term for animal cruelty to two years and raised the fine up to $65,500 for any act that deliberately harms animals and results in mangled limbs, organ failure or death.

Violators may also see their names, photos and crimes publicized, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Animal lovers pushed for the amendment after a string of shocking animal abuse cases.

Last year, a video showing a group of military personnel beating up a dog, strangling it and tossing the body into the ocean sparked public protests. Taiwan's minister of defense apologized to the public over the incident.

Dog meat is consumed in many parts of Asia including China, the Philippines, Korea and Indonesia, according to Humane Society International.

Higgins said Taiwan's new law also sends "a strong signal" to China and South Korea where the dog meat trade remains and millions of dogs are brutally killed.

China has long been criticized for its annual dog meat festival in Yulin, southern China, where 10,000 dogs are slaughtered and served as meals.

However, Robinson said there's growing opposition in China to the consumption of dog meat. A 2015 survey by Animals Asia showed nearly half of the 3,221 people it asked believed that killing dogs or cats for consumption should be illegal.

"The public too are becoming increasingly sympathetic with the plight of dogs, recognizing the criminality behind the industry, the enormous benefits that dogs bring to society and the comfort they give to the families they belong to," she said.

According to the English-language China Daily newspaper, there were more than 100 million registered pets in China in 2015. Dogs and cats make up the majority.

CNN's Jinman Li contributed to this report.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
taiwan bans eating dog and cat meat - cnn.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Taiwan's progressive ban is part of a growing trend across Asia to end the brutal dog meat trade," said Wendy Higgins with Humane Society International. "Previously, the Animal Protection Act only covered the slaughter and sale of dog and cat meat, but this amendment specifically prohibiting the actual consumption of dog meat today is welcome," said Jill Robinson, founder and CEO of Animals Asia Foundation.

# data[].attributes.body
North Korea is pushing to test missiles in a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
North Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has told the BBC in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the US.

"We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis," Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC's John Sudworth.

He said that an "all-out war" would result if the US took military action.

Earlier, US Vice-President Mike Pence warned North Korea not to test the US.

He said his country's "era of strategic patience" with North Korea was over. Mr Pence arrived in Seoul on Sunday hours after Pyongyang carried out a failed missile launch.

On Tuesday, while visiting Tokyo, he called the North Korea regime "the most ominous threat" to the region. He reiterated that while the US and allies would exert economic pressure, "all options are on the table" in dealing with Pyongyang.

Tensions have been escalating on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the US.

Mr Han told the BBC: "If the US is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method."

How did we get here?

North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and UN sanctions.

Its aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US.

US President Donald Trump has said that will not happen, and stepped up pressure on the isolated North.

He has sent a navy strike group towards the Korean Peninsula, and the US and South Korea are moving ahead with the early deployment of a controversial missile defence system.

Despite the tension, North Korea may carry out a sixth nuclear test soon, observers say. It test-fired a missile on Sunday that exploded within seconds of launch, following a grand military parade on Saturday.

John Sudworth: Face-to-face with North Korea's top diplomat

What can the outside world do about N Korea?

All about North Korea's missiles

What has the US told North Korea?

Speaking alongside South Korea's acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday, Mr Pence said North Korea should not test US President Donald Trump.

"Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan," Mr Pence said.

"North Korea would do well not to test his resolve or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region."

He reiterated US support for South Korea, telling his host: "We are with you 100%."

Last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that pre-emptive military action was "on the table".

But the US is also working with China, North Korea's main ally, to pressure the regime to stop nuclear and missile tests.

Mr Pence told journalists that the White House hoped China would use its "extraordinary levers" to pressure North Korea, the Associated Press reports.

The BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul says US policy now seems to be to persuade China to contain North Korea while keeping the economic and military pressure on.

What does North Korea say?

Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that North Korea believed its nuclear weapons "protect" it from the threat of US military action.

"If the US is reckless enough to use military means it would mean from that very day, an all-out war," he said.

The North casts the US as the aggressor.

At a news conference at the UN on Monday, North Korea's permanent representative Ambassador Kim In-ryong, condemned the US missile strikes in Syria, which targeted an air base after a suspected chemical attack by the government.

He said the US was "disturbing global peace and stability and insisting on the gangster-like logic that its invasion of a sovereign state is decisive and just and proportionate and contributes to defending the international order".
How advanced is North Korea's nuclear programme?
And what about other world powers?

China has reiterated its call for North Korea to stop all tests, and has also called for a peaceful solution.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the Korean peninsula was "highly sensitive, complicated and high risk" and that all sides should "avoid taking provocative actions that pour oil on the fire".

On Sunday, Lt Gen HR McMaster, the US top security adviser, said his country was working on a "range of options" with China, the first confirmation the two countries were co-operating to find a solution to the North Korean issue.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not tolerate "missile adventures by Pyongyang" but a unilateral use of power by the US would be "a very risky course".

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday told a parliamentary session that diplomatic efforts were "important to maintain peace", but "dialogue for the sake of having dialogue is meaningless".

He added that Japan needed to apply pressure on Pyongyang to "seriously respond to a dialogue" with the international community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
North Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has told the BBC in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the US. "We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis," Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC's John Sudworth.

# data[].attributes.body
Syria photographer takes action instead of pictures, and helps injured victims.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war.

It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

And it happened again last weekend, when a bomb hit a convoy of buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian villages, killing 126 people.

Photographer and activist Abd Alkader Habak was there working and was briefly knocked out by the blast. When he came to, he began trying to help the wounded.

"The scene was horrible -- especially seeing children wailing and dying in front of you," Habak told CNN. "So I decided along with my colleagues that we'd put our cameras aside and start rescuing injured people."

The first child he checked on was dead.

He ran towards another. Someone shouted at him to stay away -- the child was already dead, they said.

But he wasn't. Habak could see the boy was barely breathing.

He picked him up and began to run towards safety. His camera was still on, recording the chaos.

"This child was firmly holding my hand and looking at me," he said.

An image taken by another photographer, Muhammad Alrageb, shows Habak dashing towards an ambulance, the child and his camera in his arms.

Algareb said he also helped some of the injured but then began taking photos.

"I wanted to film everything to make sure there was accountability," he said. Also, he added, "I feel proud that there was a young journalist there helping save lives."

Habak said he left the injured boy, who must have been only 6 or 7, at the ambulance. He doesn't know if the boy survived.

Then he ran back to scene of the bombing to help others. He came across another child on the ground. This one, too, was dead -- one of 68 children killed in the attack.

Overwhelmed, Habak collapsed.

An image, shot by another photographer, shows him on his knees sobbing near the boy's body.

"I was overcome with emotion," he told CNN. "What I and my colleagues witnessed is indescribable."

CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this story.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Donie O'Sullivan and Waffa Munayyer, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Syria photographer puts down camera, picks up injured boy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It happened in 2015 with an image of the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, face down on a beach in Turkey, who drowned in the Mediterranean fleeing the war. It happened last year when a photographer captured little Omran Daqneesh sitting in an ambulance, his body bloodied and dusty after his home was bombed in Aleppo.

# data[].attributes.headline
Mr. Kohl- VP Mike Pence said the US is ditching that whole “strategic patience” plan. North Korea responded by saying that “thermonuclear war may break out at any moment.” Something fun to look forward to.

# data[].attributes.subject
Mr. Kohl- VP Mike Pence said the US is ditching that whole “strategic patience” plan. North Korea responded by saying that “thermonuclear war may break out at any moment.” Something fun to look forward to.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In a statement provided to CNN by officials in North Korea, Pyongyang said the "current grim situation" justified its "self-defensive and pre-emptive strike capabilities with the nuclear force at the core."

"We will make the US fully accountable for the catastrophic consequences that may be brought about by its high-handed and outrageous acts," the statement said.

The Pentagon sent the 97,000-ton USS Carl Vinson with an escort of a guided-missile cruiser and two destroyers after the latest missile test by North Korea last week.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the deployment was routine. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, he said there was "no particular objective" to its current course, adding that he "would not read too much" into its recent deployment to the waters near the Korean Peninsula.

At the same time, the deployment is a military show of force, signaling to North Korea that the US military can operate at sea in areas where the regime might engage in ballistic missile operations or other military provocations, according to US military officials.

But it's a signal with limited military utility. An aircraft carrier would not be military significant in operations against North Korea because of the vulnerability of its fighter jets in North Korean airspace.

Some of the carrier's communications suites could be used to command an operation if it came to that, but contingency plans have generally focused on US and South Korean commanders running any operations from shore.

It is the destroyers and cruisers, as well as a fast-attack submarine accompanying the carrier, that could be called into action if there was an operation against a North Korean ballistic missile launch. But officials emphasized the US and Japan always maintain some anti-missile capability in the western Pacific prepared to deal with North Korea.

The strike group has been at sea since January and conducted military exercises with other nations in the western Pacific, including Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The carrier group is now conducting some training with Australian forces and may also do additional training with Japanese forces as it heads further north, officials said. The Navy usually does not discuss ship locations in detail before they arrive.

To some extent, US commanders are ensuring they have the right assets and top level personnel on duty if there is a North Korean provocation, given the rising rhetoric from the regime there.

In another sign of US military concern, Gen. Vincent Brooks, the top US commander in South Korea, has decided skip long-planned congressional hearings and remain in the country.

"All decisions regarding the schedules of USFK leadership are based on our alliance priority to maintain readiness at all times," said Col. Robert Manning, a US military spokesman.

Even that move is not unprecedented, however. In 2013, the US commander at the time also skipped congressional hearings due to tensions in the region.

Complicated scenario

Carrying more than 5,000 sailors and 60 aircraft, the USS Carl Vinson is escorted by guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer and USS Michael Murphy and the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.

The group's ships and air wing provide significant firepower and strike capability, but balancing the available military options with the potential of retaliation from North Korea presents a complicated scenario for President Trump.

China -- North Korea's closest ally -- has pressed the US to engage in direct diplomatic negotiations with North Korea.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that Beijing understands how dangerous North Korea's nuclear program has become and agrees action must be taken to stop it, but China hasn't signaled any change in its approach to Pyongyang since a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi last week.

US allies South Korea and Japan, which has seen previous North Korean missile tests fall within 200 miles of its coast, both supported the deployment of the Vinson group.

South Korea said the group's deployment was recognition of the "grave situation on the Korean Peninsula," while Japan said it was "important to secure the power of US deterrence."

The White House faces a tough task in convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear program, retired Gen. Michael Hayden, a former head of the CIA and National Security Agency told CNN's "New Day."

"No matter what we do there is this move by North Korea to build missiles and put weapons on top of missiles," Hayden said.

"This is what they count on for regime survival. ... The best we can do is box it where it is right now," he said. "I don't think we can make them give up the program."

Missile intercept

Many analysts believe the movement of US warships is likely defensive in nature, setting the stage for a scenario in which the Vinson strike group could be called upon to perform a missile intercept.

The three escort warships traveling with the Vinson have more than 300 combined missile tubes and are outfitted with the Aegis anti-missile system, according to Bruce Bennett, senior defense analyst at the think tank Rand Corp.

"If North Korea were to test some number of ballistic missiles by firing them into the East Sea/Sea of Japan, these warships would have the potential of intercepting the North Korean test missile," Bennett said.

Intercepting a long-range rocket test passing overhead would send a clear message to Kim and would be justifiable as the rockets would possibly be on course to pass over Japan, according to Peter Layton, a visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute in Brisbane, Australia.

"The Carl Vinson group is commanded from Hawaii, rather than the US military base in Japan, so it's a clear American initiative not a Japanese or South Korea one," Layton told CNN. "That may defuse attempts to link Japan and South Korea and thus limit the possibility of any North Korean aggression against them."

While the carrier group has been deployed to the Korean Peninsula in the past, lawmakers are wondering how the US warships will be directed to respond to another North Korean missile test.

"Are we going to try to shoot that intercontinental ballistic missile down? Are we going to let the test go on unpaid on unimpeded? Republican Rep. Will Hurd asked on CNN's "New Day." "These are questions that should be asked of Congress."

Offensive strike capabilities

The Trump administration has floated the idea of carrying out preemptive strikes against North Korea, but the scope and method of potential offensive actions remain unclear.

The Vinson's air wing, made up of more than 40 F/A-18 Hornets, provides the offensive capability to attack enemy targets with bombs or missiles while the carrier's E/A-18G Growler aircraft have the ability to jam enemy radars, disrupt enemy electronic surveillance and provide "cover" for attacking aircraft.

"A potential US strike, using aircraft from the Vinson, could range from a small-scale strike against a single target, like a missile on a launch pad or the support equipment that makes a missile launch possible, to a broader set of military targets if the US meant to 'send a message' that an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) or atomic device test was not going to be tolerated," Dakota Wood, an analyst at the DC-based Heritage Foundation, told CNN.

But the Vinson strike group may not have the weapons to take out North Korea's nuclear assets, which are buried deep underground, Wood said.

"I believe they would normally be delivered by bomber (B-2, B-1, or perhaps B-52) which could fly from Andersen Air Base on Guam," he told CNN.

On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was expected to attend the country's Supreme People's Assembly, a high-profile gathering of the nation's leading political figures.

The meeting comes days before North Korea celebrates the April 15 birthday of deceased leader Kim Il Sung, Kim's grandfather -- amid speculation that Pyongyang will mark the occasion with by testing missiles or possibly a nuclear device.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
north korea issues warning on us aircraft carrier - cnnpolitics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Tim Schwarz, Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen, CNN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
North Korea issues warning as US strike group heads to Korean Peninsula

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In a statement provided to CNN by officials in North Korea, Pyongyang said the "current grim situation" justified its "self-defensive and pre-emptive strike capabilities with the nuclear force at the core." "We will make the US fully accountable for the catastrophic consequences that may be brought about by its high-handed and outrageous acts," the statement said.