The latest on the tensions on the

Korean Peninsula

South Korean army soldiers return to their base after a patrol in Paju, south of the demilitarized zone that divides the two
Koreas, Friday. Pic: AP.

By AP News Aug 22, 2015

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) The latest on the tensions on the Korean Peninsula (all
times local):
3:30 p.m.
South Korean officials say they will hold talks with officials from North Korea on
Saturday in a bid to defuse tensions.
The meeting will take place at the border village of Panmunjom at 6 p.m. Seoul time
(0900 GMT), which is 30 minutes after the deadline set by Pyongyang for Seoul to to
dismantle loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda.

According to the officials in Seoul, South Korean side will be represented by

presidential national security adviser Kim Kwang-jin and Unification Minister Hong
Yong-pyo, while North Korean side will be represented by senior officials Hwang
Pyong So and Kim Yang Gon.
Tong-hyung Kim, Seoul
___
In Pyongyang, businesses are open as usual and street stalls selling ice cream are
crowded as residents took breaks under parasols from the summer sun. There are no
visible signs of increased security measures, though the city is even under normal
situations heavily secured and fortified.
The Norths state-run media has strongly ratcheted up its rhetoric, saying the whole
nation is bracing for the possibility of an all-out war. Leader Kim Jong Un has been
shown repeatedly on TV news broadcasts leading a strategy meeting with the top
military brass to review the Norths attack plan and young people are reportedly
swarming to recruitment centers to sign up to join the fight.
People were willing to talk about the tension and, as is common in public in North
Korea officially called the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea they voiced
support for their governments policies and their leader. They also used phrases like
puppet gangsters to refer to South Korean authorities, as these are everyday terms in
the North, in state media and conversation.
Said Pyongyang citizen Choe Sin Ae: I think that the South Korean puppet gangsters
should have the clear idea that thousands of our people and soldiers are totally
confident in winning at any cost because we have our respected leader with us.
Eric Talmadge, Pyongyang
___
Noon
South Korea has blocked access to a tourist observatory close to the border with North
Korea, in response to escalating tensions between the two rivals.
The Dora Observatory looking across the Demilitarized Zone was shut down by
security forces.

However, most South Koreans are going about their daily life and highway traffic is
normal. North Korea also permitted more than 240 South Koreans to enter a jointlyrun industrial complex at its border city of Kaesong on Saturday.
North Korea says its ready for an all-out war against South Korea as a 5:30 p.m.
(0830 GMT) Saturday deadline approached set by Pyongyang for Seoul to dismantle
loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda along their border.
On Thursday, South Korea fired dozens of artillery rounds across the border, saying
North Korea had fired first to back up a threat to attack the loudspeakers.
___
9 a.m.
North Korea says its ready for an all-out war against South Korea as a 5:30 p.m.
(0830 GMT) Saturday deadline approached set by Pyongyang for Seoul to dismantle
loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda along their border.
The warning by North Koreas Foreign Ministry came after North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un on Friday declared his front-line troops in a quasi-state of war and ordered
them to prepare for battle. South Korea on Thursday fired dozens of artillery rounds
across the border, saying North Korea had fired first to back up a threat to attack the
loudspeakers.
In a statement carried by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, the
Foreign Ministry says North Korean soldiers and people are poised not to just
counter-act or make any retaliation but not to rule out an all-out war to protect the
social system, their own choice, at the risk of their lives.
Seoul recently resumed the anti-Pyongyang border broadcasts for the first time in 11
years after it accused the North of planting land mines that maimed two South Korean
soldiers earlier this month. Seoul has vowed to continue the broadcasts.
Tong-hyung Kim, Seoul
___
5 p.m.
North Koreas deputy U.N. ambassador says a strong military counteraction will be
launched if South Korea does not meet a Saturday deadline for removing

loudspeakers broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda along their border.

I would say that our military will not make any empty talks, Ambassador An Myong
Hun told reporters.
An says North Korea has asked for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council to
discuss issues including the current U.S.-South Korea military exercises, which were
briefly suspended.
The letter to the Security Council president accuses South Korea and the United States
of fabricating the land mine incident that led to the current escalating tensions.
Edith M. Lederer, United Nations
___
2:30 p.m.
The Pentagon says Americas annual military exercise with South Korea has resumed
after being stopped as a result of escalating tensions and threats of war from
Pyongyang.
David Shear, the assistant secretary for Asia issues, says the exercise was temporarily
halted so that the U.S. and South Korea could talk and coordinate over the recent
exchange of artillery fire across the border.
He says U.S. forces are at an increased security status for the exercise and that the U.S.
is continuing to monitor the situation closely.
Lolita C. Baldor, Washington
___
1:00 p.m.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over rising tensions
between North and South Korea and urged them to engage in dialogue to promote
peace.
U.N. spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said Ban also urged the two Koreas to refrain from
taking any further measures that might increase tensions.
Ban is a former South Korean foreign minister.

Tensions have escalated since South Korea accused rival North Korea of shelling a
border town on Thursday and retaliated with dozens of artillery rounds. North Korea
has threatened further action unless Seoul ends loudspeaker broadcasts of anti-North
Korean propaganda at the border.
Edith Lederer, United Nations
___
7:30 p.m.
North Koreas ambassador to Russia has accused South Korea of lying about alleged
North Korean artillery strikes and asked for the worlds help in defusing rapidly
growing tensions between the two countries.
At a news conference in Moscow on Friday, Ambassador Kim Hyun Joon attributed
the tensions to what he called military and political provocations by the United States
and South Korea.
He repeated North Koreas threat of military action if South Korea does not meet a
Saturday deadline for removing loudspeakers along their border that recently resumed
broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda after a lull of 11 years.
South Korea has vowed to continue the broadcasts, which were restarted after it
accused North Korea of planting land mines in the DMZ along their border that
maimed two South Korean soldiers.
South Korea fired dozens of artillery shells across the border on Thursday after
accusing North Korea of artillery strikes.
Nataliya Vasilyeva, Moscow
___
11:50 a.m.
U.S. defense officials say Americas annual military exercise with South Korea has been
halted as tensions with North Korea spike and Pyongyang issues threats of war.
The officials say the U.S. is monitoring the situation, but hasnt taken any other
military steps. It was unclear if the exercise would resume.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday declared his front-line troops in a quasistate of war and ordered them to prepare for battle against South Korea in response to
an exchange of artillery fire on the border Thursday.
The annual exercise began Monday and was slated to end next Friday.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to
discuss the matter publicly.
Lolita C. Baldor, Washington, D.C.
Posted by Thavam