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North Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam missile plan North Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam missile plan
(about 3 hours later)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been briefed on a plan to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, state media says.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been briefed on a plan to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, state media says.
But the report said he would watch US actions before making a decision on "the enveloping fire at Guam".But the report said he would watch US actions before making a decision on "the enveloping fire at Guam".
Last week, the North said a plan was being drawn up to fire four missiles into the sea off Guam, where US bombers are based. Last week, North Korea said a plan was being drawn up to fire four missiles into the sea off Guam, where US bombers are based.
It came amid a sharp rise in rhetoric between the US and North Korea. It follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the US and the North.
What does North Korea's statement really mean?
The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un "examined the plan for a long time" and discussed it with senior military officials.The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un "examined the plan for a long time" and discussed it with senior military officials.
The commander of North Korea's strategic force was waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam", the report added. The commander of North Korea's strategic force was waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam".
It quoted Kim Jong-un as saying: "The United States, which was the first to bring numerous strategic nuclear equipment near us, should first make the right decision and show through actions if they wish to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and prevent a dangerous military clash." But, crucially, the report also added that the North Korean leader would watch the US, before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric.
He ordered the army to be ready to launch the missiles if he made a decision for action, the report added. The BBC's Yogita Limaye in Seoul points out that this latest commentary talks of how to "defuse the tensions and prevent dangerous military conflict on the Korean peninsula".
Earlier, US Defence Secretary James Mattis warned that any attack by North Korea could quickly escalate into war. He said the US military would defend the country "from any attack, at any time and from any quarter". Our correspondent adds that after days of menacing threats from Pyongyang, it might seem that Kim Jong-un could be in the mood to finally hit the pause button - but in a nation as secretive as North Korea, one can never be sure.
South Korea, which has been alarmed by the growing tensions in the region, has urged the US to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so could just be buying more time.
President Moon Jae-in told visiting top US military official Gen Joseph Dunford that the South's top priority "and our national interest" was peace. What is the US saying?
He urged the North to "stop all provocations and hostile rhetoric". The statement follows a stark warning from US Defence Secretary James Mattis that any attack could quickly escalate into war, and if Pyongyang fired a missile towards Guam, "then it's game on."
Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US and its allies, and later boasted that the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever before". He told reporters that the US military would defend the country "from any attack, at any time and from any quarter".
China, the North's closest ally, has urged calm. He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that at they were well-protected and said that if a missile was fired, "we'll take it out".
The UN recently approved fresh economic sanctions against North Korea in an attempt to pressure it into giving up its nuclear ambitions. North Korea threats unsettle Guam islanders
The measures aim to reduce North Korea's export revenues by a third. The tiny but important island of Guam
Guam profile from BBC Monitoring
What about North Korea's neighbours?
South Korea and China - North Korea's closest ally - have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions.
On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that the US should not act unilaterally on the Korean peninsula, and that consent was crucial before any military action.
The K-pop concert seeking to broker Korean peace
China's foreign ministry on Monday reiterated its "suspension for suspension proposal" where North Korea stops its military tests in exchange for a freeze on military exercises by the US and South Korea.
Chinese state media outlet Global Times also urged South Korea to "act as a buffer" between the North and the US, arguing that China has less influence over Pyongyang than South Korea has on the US.
How did tensions escalate so rapidly?
Over the last year North Korea has stepped up its missile tests, despite repeated warnings from all quarters.
The state had already conducted five nuclear tests, but then in July it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) claiming it now had the ability to hit the US mainland.
The UN then approved fresh economic sanctions against North Korea to pressure it into giving up its nuclear ambitions. The measures aim to reduce North Korea's export revenues by a third.
Pyongyang reacted furiously to the new sanctions, calling them a "violent violation of our sovereignty" and warning that the US would "pay a price".Pyongyang reacted furiously to the new sanctions, calling them a "violent violation of our sovereignty" and warning that the US would "pay a price".
The North, which has tested nuclear devices five times, launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in July, claiming it now had the ability to hit the mainland US. Last week, US media reported that North Korea had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles.
It is also reported to have achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. Although not confirmed, this was seen as one of the final obstacles to North Korea being a fully nuclear-armed state.
Although not confirmed, this was seen as one of the last obstacles to North Korea being a fully nuclear-armed state. It prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten North Korea with "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US and its allies.
He added to the forthright rhetoric saying the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever before" and "locked and loaded".