North Korean soldiers near the demilitarized zone, Photo: Reuters
North Korea said today it had put its fighter units on alert to attack South Korea, ramping up pressure on its southern neighbor after multiple drones from the South were spotted flying over the capital Pyongyang.
North Korea on Friday accused South Korea of using drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang and threatened to respond with force if a similar incident happened again.
South Korea refused to confirm whether it had sent the drones, but warned that it would “severely punish” North Korea if the safety of its citizens was threatened.
In a statement carried by state media today, North Korea’s defense ministry said the military had ordered artillery and other military units near the border with South Korea to “prepare to open fire.”
An unnamed ministry spokesman said the North Korean military has ordered military units to fully prepare for situations such as launching emergency strikes against unspecified enemy targets when South Korea sends its drones across the border again.
In a separate statement later today, the spokesman said the entire South Korean territory “could turn into piles of ash” after a powerful attack by North Korea.
Analysts have predicted that North Korea will escalate tensions ahead of next month’s US presidential election to try to strengthen its position in future diplomacy with the US.
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Source: www.vijesti.me
