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| N Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam plan but opts to wait | N Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam plan but opts to wait |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reviewed plans to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam but will hold off, state media said. | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reviewed plans to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam but will hold off, state media said. |
| Although prepared for "the enveloping fire at Guam", the North said it would watch what "the foolish Yankees" do before taking a decision. | Although prepared for "the enveloping fire at Guam", the North said it would watch what "the foolish Yankees" do before taking a decision. |
| Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides. | Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides. |
| This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words. | This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words. |
| South Korea's President Moon Jae-in meanwhile has urged the US not to launch an attack on the Korean peninsula without its consent, saying "no one may decide to take military action without the consent" of the South. | South Korea's President Moon Jae-in meanwhile has urged the US not to launch an attack on the Korean peninsula without its consent, saying "no one may decide to take military action without the consent" of the South. |
| What does North Korea's statement really mean? | 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 now merely waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam". | The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam". |
| But, crucially, the report also said that Mr Kim would watch the US before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric. | But, crucially, the report also said that Mr Kim would watch the US before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric. |
| Correspondents say that after days of menacing threats 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. | Correspondents say that after days of menacing threats 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. |
| Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so it could just be buying more time. | Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so it could just be buying more time. |
| What are North Korea's neighbours saying? | What are North Korea's neighbours saying? |
| South Korea and China - North Korea's closest ally - have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions. | 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 the US should not act unilaterally. The two countries' defence agreement states that they must "consult together" when either is threatened. | On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the US should not act unilaterally. The two countries' defence agreement states that they must "consult together" when either is threatened. |
| The meaning behind Moon's words - Yogita Limaye, BBC News, Seoul | The meaning behind Moon's words - Yogita Limaye, BBC News, Seoul |
| Questions are being raised about whether America would need South Korea's approval to strike back at North Korea if Guam was attacked. | Questions are being raised about whether America would need South Korea's approval to strike back at North Korea if Guam was attacked. |
| According to international law, and the military agreement between South Korea and the US, it does not. So why would President Moon say no military action could be taken without Seoul's "consent"? | According to international law, and the military agreement between South Korea and the US, it does not. So why would President Moon say no military action could be taken without Seoul's "consent"? |
| Professor Hwee Rhak Park from Kookmin University says it might be a gesture towards liberals in South Korea - who are the president's main supporters - to show that the government is in control of the situation. | Professor Hwee Rhak Park from Kookmin University says it might be a gesture towards liberals in South Korea - who are the president's main supporters - to show that the government is in control of the situation. |
| South Korea is often criticised by its northern neighbour for being a puppet of the US, so this could also be a veiled message to America to tone down the rhetoric. | South Korea is often criticised by its northern neighbour for being a puppet of the US, so this could also be a veiled message to America to tone down the rhetoric. |
| Whatever he means, the South Korean president's stance has been quite clear from the start. He wants a diplomatic resolution, and has reiterated that he's open to talks with Pyongyang. | Whatever he means, the South Korean president's stance has been quite clear from the start. He wants a diplomatic resolution, and has reiterated that he's open to talks with Pyongyang. |
| The K-pop concert seeking to broker Korean peace | 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 missile tests in exchange for a freeze on military exercises by the US and South Korea. | |
| China imposes N Korea imports ban | China imposes N Korea imports ban |
| What is the latest comment from the US? | What is the latest comment from the US? |
| Defence Secretary James Mattis earlier warned that any attack could quickly escalate into war, and if Pyongyang fired a missile towards Guam, "then it's game on". | |
| He told reporters that the US military would defend the country "from any attack, at any time and from any quarter". | He told reporters that the US military would defend the country "from any attack, at any time and from any quarter". |
| He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that they were well-protected and if a missile was fired, "we'll take it out". | He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that they were well-protected and if a missile was fired, "we'll take it out". |
| Meanwhile, the governor of Guam, Eddie Baza Calvo, has praised President Trump's rhetoric, saying it ensured the US position was clearly understood. | |
| North Korea threats unsettle Guam islanders | North Korea threats unsettle Guam islanders |
| The tiny but important island of Guam | The tiny but important island of Guam |
| Guam profile from BBC Monitoring | Guam profile from BBC Monitoring |
| How did tensions escalate so rapidly? | How did tensions escalate so rapidly? |
| Over the past year North Korea has stepped up its missile tests, despite repeated warnings from all quarters. | Over the past 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 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. | 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". |
| Last week, US media reported that North Korea had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. | Last week, US media reported that North Korea had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. |
| Although not confirmed, this was seen as North Korea overcoming a final obstacle to becoming a fully nuclear-armed state. | Although not confirmed, this was seen as North Korea overcoming a final obstacle to becoming a fully nuclear-armed state. |
| It prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten Pyongyang with "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US and its allies, saying the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever before" and "locked and loaded". | It prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten Pyongyang with "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US and its allies, saying the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever before" and "locked and loaded". |
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