2015/08/21 09:28
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SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered front-line troops to have full combat readiness against South Korea as he declared a "quasi-state of war," the North's state media said Friday, raising tension after both Koreas exchanged fire across the western border.
Kim convened an emergency meeting of the central military commission of the Workers' Party hours after the exchange of fire and ordered chief commanders to go to front-line troops to prepare for military operations, the North's Korean Central Television reported.
"Commanders of the Korean People's Army were hastily dispatched to the front-line troops to command military operations to destroy psychological warfare tools if the enemy does not stop the propaganda broadcast within 48 hours and prepare against the enemy's possible counteractions," the broadcaster said.
The exchange started when the North fired shells into a South Korean front-line military unit on Thursday afternoon, which prompted South Korean troops to counter with artillery fire. No casualties were reported.
Shortly after the shelling, North Korea issued a fresh threat to take military action if South Korea does not stop its anti-Pyongyang propaganda campaign.
The two Koreas have traded a war of words over the broadcasts that South Korea resumed on Aug. 10 in retaliation for a land mine attack earlier this month that left two South Korean soldiers severely injured.
South Korea accused the North of planting the mines inside the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, a charge denied by North Korea.
North Korea has bristled at South Korea's propaganda campaign amid concern that an influx of outside information could pose a threat to its leader.
North Korea has threatened to carry out "indiscriminate strikes" on South Korea unless Seoul halts the broadcasts.
The North warned Thursday that it would take strong military action if the South does not end border propaganda broadcasts and dismantles the broadcast facilities "within 48 hours."
South Korea has ordered its military to be on top alert, vowing to sternly deal with any North Korean provocations.
The government also said it has taken measures to ensure the safety of its nationals who are temporarily staying in the North.
It said it will put a partial ban on the entry of its nationals into Kaesong Industrial Complex in the North where a total of 124 South Korean smaller firms are running factories with about 54,000 North Korean workers employed.
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According to  news agency, quoting 's main news agency  (KCNA), the country's military has been placed on high alert and has been told to prepare a "quasi-state of war". The report comes after North and  exchanged artillery fire yesterday.

"War maniacs of the South Korean puppet military made another grave provocation to the DPRK in the central western sector of the front on Thursday afternoon. They perpetrated such reckless action as firing 36 shells at KPA civil police posts under the absurd pretext that the KPA fired one shell at the south side. Six shells of them hit the area near KPA civil police posts 542 and 543 and other 15 shells fell near KPA civil police posts 250 and 251," said KCNA. "Foolhardy provocation deserves harsh punishment," it added; and, later, " issued an order of the supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army KPA that the front-line large combined units of the KPA should enter a wartime state to be fully battle ready to launch surprise operations."

Yesterday, North Korea fired artillery rounds aimed at a loudspeaker in South Korea that broadcasts anti- propaganda into the North. "Commanders of the Korean People's Army were hastily dispatched to the front-line troops to command military operations to destroy psychological warfare tools if the enemy does not stop the propaganda broadcast within 48 hours and prepare against the enemy's possible counteractions," added KCNA.

No injuries or deaths were reported in the attacks from either side, but South Korea evacuated about 80 people in the town of  after at least one shell landed near the area. The South retaliated by firing dozens of rounds of artillery into the north.

South Korea had recently started to broadcast propaganda from loudspeakers after an 11-year lull. The broadcasts began on August 10 and South Korea says the broadcasts will continue. After the exchange of fire, North Korea stated it would attack any loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda and would respond, militarily, within 48 hours if the broadcasts do not stop.

Both countries have put their militaries on high levels of alert.


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