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North Korea: Top US military officer says America is 'committed to defending South Korea' North Korea: Top US military officer says America is 'committed to defending South Korea'
(about 20 hours later)
A top US military officer has pledged to defend South Korea amid mounting tensions with North Korea.A top US military officer has pledged to defend South Korea amid mounting tensions with North Korea.
The AFP news service reported that General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comments in a call to a senior South Korean counterpart on Friday 21 August.The AFP news service reported that General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comments in a call to a senior South Korean counterpart on Friday 21 August.
A Pentagon statement read: "Chairman Dempsey reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the United States to the defense of the ROK (South Korea) and reiterated the strength of the US-ROK alliance."A Pentagon statement read: "Chairman Dempsey reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the United States to the defense of the ROK (South Korea) and reiterated the strength of the US-ROK alliance."
US military members stationed in South Korea are currently on "enhanced status" – a heightened state of alert – as tensions flare on the peninsula and threats of war are made from Pyongyang.US military members stationed in South Korea are currently on "enhanced status" – a heightened state of alert – as tensions flare on the peninsula and threats of war are made from Pyongyang.
The two countries are holding their first high-level talks in nearly a year at the truce village of Panmunjom, shortly after a deadline set by North Korea that demanded the South remove loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda at the border.The two countries are holding their first high-level talks in nearly a year at the truce village of Panmunjom, shortly after a deadline set by North Korea that demanded the South remove loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda at the border.
The South Korean presidential office said national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo would sit with Hwang Pyong So – widely considered to be the second highest-ranking North Korean official after Kim Jong-un – and Kim Yang Gon, a secretary of the central committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.The South Korean presidential office said national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo would sit with Hwang Pyong So – widely considered to be the second highest-ranking North Korean official after Kim Jong-un – and Kim Yang Gon, a secretary of the central committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
South Korea's military warned that North Korea must refrain from engaging in "rash acts" or face strong punishment, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.South Korea's military warned that North Korea must refrain from engaging in "rash acts" or face strong punishment, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.
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
US-based experts on North Korea say a land mine blast and reports of shots fired at a loudspeaker on the border were the most serious security incidents since Kim Jong-un came to power in 2011.US-based experts on North Korea say a land mine blast and reports of shots fired at a loudspeaker on the border were the most serious security incidents since Kim Jong-un came to power in 2011.
"If Kim Jong Il or Kim Il Sung was in charge, I would say that leadership in North Korea would recognise that South Korea has responded in kind to an attack and it's time to stand down," said Evans Revere, a former senior State Department official on East Asia."If Kim Jong Il or Kim Il Sung was in charge, I would say that leadership in North Korea would recognise that South Korea has responded in kind to an attack and it's time to stand down," said Evans Revere, a former senior State Department official on East Asia.
"But I'm not sure Kim Jong Un understands the rules of the game established by his father and grandfather on how to ratchet up tensions and then ratchet them down. I'm not sure if he knows how to de-escalate.""But I'm not sure Kim Jong Un understands the rules of the game established by his father and grandfather on how to ratchet up tensions and then ratchet them down. I'm not sure if he knows how to de-escalate."
Additional reporting by APAdditional reporting by AP