Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea, ordered the country's army to reach a state of "combat readiness" following the skirmish a few hours ago with South Korea. This is what the Yonhap agency reported .
Kim Jong Un ordered the army to prepare for a possible invasion at any time starting this morning's 8. The decision was taken after the incidents of the past few hours along the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries, culminating in an armed clash, the first of the last five years.
"The military commanders have received provisions regarding possible assault operations against the structures of psychological warfare in the South".
The provocations started on the 10 last August when Seoul would start transmitting audio messages of anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the border with North Korea, a practice no longer used for ten years. It would have been a response to the explosion of a mine, the 4 last August, in the demilitarized zone in which two South Korean soldiers were injured.
That area, according to Seoul, was allegedly undermined by Pyongyang, contrary to the provisions of the armistice signed by the two countries. The North Koreans, however, have always denied having placed mines along the demilitarized zone, talking about a real plot hatched by Seoul. The People's Army of North Korea, last Saturday, threatened to destroy the huge loudspeakers located near the demilitarized zone, if Seoul had not turned them off.
A few hours ago, finally, North Korea launched some artillery shells at a South Korean military base through the demilitarized zone. Seoul's response was not long in coming with dozens of 155 millimeter shots launched twenty minutes after the attack. No victims reported.
Seoul and Pyongyang have signed a ceasefire after the Korean war, fought between the 1950 and the 1953. Countries remain formally in a state of war. North Korea, which has also restarted its propaganda missions, is extremely sensitive to any criticism of the government run by the leader Kim Jong Un, whose family rules since the day of its foundation, which took place in the 1948. Pyongyang fears the psychological war that could weaken Kim's absolute power.
South Korea, which is massing troops near the border, has confirmed that audio messages will continue to the bitter end.
We will react strongly - said South Korean President Park Geun-hye a few hours ago - at every provocation.
The escalation, in an area substantially in a state of war for over half a century, would have taken place immediately after the start of the annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, held by Pyongyang to be invasion proofs. Seoul and Washington have always claimed that the exercises are defensive in nature.
The Pyongyang ultimatum for the cessation of all propaganda activities is set for tomorrow morning. The United States has thousands of soldiers in the 30 Region (joining the South Korean 50 thousand) in the joint exercise. Osan's US base has alerted the entire 51st Fighter Wing.
The United States has a powerful air force in South Korea consisting of F-22, F-18, F-15, F-16, A-10 and B-2. Finally, without considering the support that could come from the sea.
