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North Korea makes warship claim | North Korea makes warship claim |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korea has accused Seoul of sending warships into its waters, amid a growing row between the countries. | North Korea has accused Seoul of sending warships into its waters, amid a growing row between the countries. |
Pyongyang promised "unexpected countermeasures" should the alleged incursion continue. South Korean officials deny the claims. | Pyongyang promised "unexpected countermeasures" should the alleged incursion continue. South Korean officials deny the claims. |
The latest threats come after days of sabre-rattling, the North test-firing missiles and Seoul warning it would respond to any attacks. | The latest threats come after days of sabre-rattling, the North test-firing missiles and Seoul warning it would respond to any attacks. |
South Korea's leader Lee Myung-bak has accused the North of fuelling tensions. | South Korea's leader Lee Myung-bak has accused the North of fuelling tensions. |
Since taking office, Mr Lee has angered Pyongyang by linking aid to progress on denuclearisation and human rights. | Since taking office, Mr Lee has angered Pyongyang by linking aid to progress on denuclearisation and human rights. |
Tensions between the two sides have been growing all week, and culminated on Thursday with a threat from the North to suspend all dialogue with its neighbour and close the border. | Tensions between the two sides have been growing all week, and culminated on Thursday with a threat from the North to suspend all dialogue with its neighbour and close the border. |
The North's KCNA news agency, the mouthpiece of the Communist regime, then accused Seoul of making a military incursion. | The North's KCNA news agency, the mouthpiece of the Communist regime, then accused Seoul of making a military incursion. |
"The South Korean military's warmongers have sent three battleships deep into our territorial waters in the West Sea [Yellow Sea] at around 11:45 am (0245 GMT) on April 3," the KCNA report said. | "The South Korean military's warmongers have sent three battleships deep into our territorial waters in the West Sea [Yellow Sea] at around 11:45 am (0245 GMT) on April 3," the KCNA report said. |
"South Korea's military should clearly bear in mind that an unexpected countermeasure will follow if they continue to push battleships into [our waters] and raise tensions." | "South Korea's military should clearly bear in mind that an unexpected countermeasure will follow if they continue to push battleships into [our waters] and raise tensions." |
'Shenanigans' | 'Shenanigans' |
The accusations come after a week in which North Korea has expelled South Korean managers from a joint industrial base, test-fired short-range missiles and criticised Mr Lee in state media. | The accusations come after a week in which North Korea has expelled South Korean managers from a joint industrial base, test-fired short-range missiles and criticised Mr Lee in state media. |
The communist nation is also seeking an apology from the South after General Kim Tae-young said Seoul could target the North's suspected nuclear sites if an attack looked imminent. | The communist nation is also seeking an apology from the South after General Kim Tae-young said Seoul could target the North's suspected nuclear sites if an attack looked imminent. |
THE TWO KOREAS 1910: Korean Peninsula colonised by Japan1945: Divided into US-backed South and Soviet-backed North1950-1953: Korean War, no peace deal signed1987: North Korea bombs a South airliner, killing 1151990s: South Korea introduces conciliatory Sunshine Policy2000: Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung hold first leaders' summit2007: Kim Jong-il and Roh Moo-hyun hold second leaders' summit History of the Korean WarNo more sunshine? | |
On Wednesday, South Korea's Defence Ministry sent a statement to North Korea asking it to stop "slander" and activities that would disrupt the stability of the Korean peninsula. | On Wednesday, South Korea's Defence Ministry sent a statement to North Korea asking it to stop "slander" and activities that would disrupt the stability of the Korean peninsula. |
Yonhap news agency says that in response, a North Korean general sent a statement threatening unspecified "military countermeasures". | Yonhap news agency says that in response, a North Korean general sent a statement threatening unspecified "military countermeasures". |
He also dismissed South Korea's statement as "shenanigans", the agency said. | He also dismissed South Korea's statement as "shenanigans", the agency said. |
Meanwhile, in a speech on Thursday, the South Korean president defended his general's remarks. | Meanwhile, in a speech on Thursday, the South Korean president defended his general's remarks. |
"The comments by Chairman Kim (Tae-young) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were a natural and ordinary reply to lawmakers' questions," he said. | "The comments by Chairman Kim (Tae-young) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were a natural and ordinary reply to lawmakers' questions," he said. |
"It shouldn't be interpreted differently. So North Korea's attitude is not desirable." | "It shouldn't be interpreted differently. So North Korea's attitude is not desirable." |
He called for "substantial dialogue" between the two countries. | He called for "substantial dialogue" between the two countries. |
The chill between the Koreas comes as talks aiming to implement the North's denuclearisation deal appear to have stalled. | The chill between the Koreas comes as talks aiming to implement the North's denuclearisation deal appear to have stalled. |
Pyongyang agreed last year to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid. | Pyongyang agreed last year to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid. |
But it then missed a deadline to fully disclose all of its activities and progress on the deal has come to a halt. | But it then missed a deadline to fully disclose all of its activities and progress on the deal has come to a halt. |