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North Korea - South Korea: Kim Jong-un promises 'indiscriminate strikes' and places country on 'war footing' after artillery shots fired North Korea - South Korea: Kim Jong-un promises 'indiscriminate strikes' and places country on 'war footing' after artillery shots fired
(4 months later)
Kim Jong-un has put North Korea on a war footing and threatened "indiscriminate strikes" against the South if it doesn't agree to halt propaganda broadcasts by Saturday evening at 5pm.Kim Jong-un has put North Korea on a war footing and threatened "indiscriminate strikes" against the South if it doesn't agree to halt propaganda broadcasts by Saturday evening at 5pm.
Mr Kim claimed North Korea’s soldiers were in a “quasi-state of war” and ordered them to prepare for battle, according to state news outlet KCNA.Mr Kim claimed North Korea’s soldiers were in a “quasi-state of war” and ordered them to prepare for battle, according to state news outlet KCNA.
The country has threatened action unless South Korea stops its anti-Pyongyang broadcasts over the heavily fortified North-South border by 5pm (local time) on Saturday.The country has threatened action unless South Korea stops its anti-Pyongyang broadcasts over the heavily fortified North-South border by 5pm (local time) on Saturday.
South Korea's defence ministry has warned that the nation will "strongly retaliate against any kind of North Korean attacks".South Korea's defence ministry has warned that the nation will "strongly retaliate against any kind of North Korean attacks".
In an emergency meeting of the central military commission Mr Kim reportedly ordered North Korean troops to be "fully ready for any military operations at any time" from 5pm on Friday  (local time).In an emergency meeting of the central military commission Mr Kim reportedly ordered North Korean troops to be "fully ready for any military operations at any time" from 5pm on Friday  (local time).
Meanwhile, South Korean president Park Geun-hye chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Council – and ordered a “stern response” to any further provocations, AFP reported.Meanwhile, South Korean president Park Geun-hye chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Council – and ordered a “stern response” to any further provocations, AFP reported.
Although similarly aggressive rhetoric has been made in the past, international observers have noted the use of heavy artillery shells with alarm.Although similarly aggressive rhetoric has been made in the past, international observers have noted the use of heavy artillery shells with alarm.
The United Nations and US – which has 28,500 troops stationed in ally South Korea – have both expressed concern over the tension, and said they are monitoring the situation closely.The United Nations and US – which has 28,500 troops stationed in ally South Korea – have both expressed concern over the tension, and said they are monitoring the situation closely.
US troops in South Korea
Since the armistice following the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, the two nations have maintained a tense demilitarized zone along their shared border.Since the armistice following the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, the two nations have maintained a tense demilitarized zone along their shared border.
A man cuts the hair of a young boy at an apartment building in Pyongyang. High rise apartments are a common form of accommodation for people living in the capital city
AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
North Koreans pause to give way for passing vehicles as they cross a road in Pyongyang.
AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
North Koreans wait for public transportation at a bus stop in Pyongyang
AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
A woman and her daughter walk past a North Korean flag hung on a utility pole as part of celebrations of the Liberation Day in Pyongyang
AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom
AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT
A man looks at items at a stamp shop in Pyongyang
AP Photo/Dita Alangkara
North Koreans participate in a closing event for its celebration of the 70th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, at the truce village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides the two Koreas in Panmunjom, North Korea. The country changed it's timezone on the occasion. North Korea introduced 'Pyongyang time' and pushed back its clocks by half an hour on 15 August, the same as before the Japanese occupation when the standard time used by the Korean empire was eight and a half hours ahead of GMT, instead of nine hours, which is Tokyo time
EPA/KCNA SOUTH KOREA OUT
People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom
AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS
Youths and students attending an evening gala at the Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II
AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation
REUTERS/KCNAATTENTION EDITORS
It appears that the loudspeaker, broadcasting anti- Pyongyang messages over the border for the first time since 2004 after two soldiers were injured by a North Korean landmine, is at the root of the latest confrontation.  It appears that the loudspeaker, broadcasting anti- Pyongyang messages over the border for the first time since 2004 after two soldiers were injured by a North Korean landmine, is at the root of the latest confrontation.  
North Korea shelled the loudspeaker in protest, prompting South Korea to return fire with 155mm artillery rounds targeting a military post. There have been no reported injuries.North Korea shelled the loudspeaker in protest, prompting South Korea to return fire with 155mm artillery rounds targeting a military post. There have been no reported injuries.
Loudspeakers installed by South Korea along the DMZ
South Korea’s defence ministry confirmed the loudspeaker will continue broadcasting.South Korea’s defence ministry confirmed the loudspeaker will continue broadcasting.
It comes as Yonhap News reported around 2,000 people have been evacuated from South Korean towns along the border.It comes as Yonhap News reported around 2,000 people have been evacuated from South Korean towns along the border.
Additional reporting by Associated PressAdditional reporting by Associated Press