This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21974381
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
North Korea tensions: Russia's Lavrov fears 'spiral' | North Korea tensions: Russia's Lavrov fears 'spiral' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The North Korean situation could spiral out of control, Russia has warned, after another day of inflamed rhetoric from Pyongyang. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned of a "vicious circle" and told all sides to avoid unilateral action. | |
On Thursday, the North threatened to "settle accounts" and said it had put missiles on stand-by to hit the US. | |
The US, which flew stealth bombers over South Korea this month, condemned the North's "bellicose rhetoric". | |
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the rhetoric only deepened North Korea's isolation. | |
North Korean state media reported leader Kim Jong-un "judged the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists". | |
He was said to have condemned US B-2 bomber sorties over South Korea as a "reckless phase" that represented an "ultimatum that they will ignite a nuclear war at any cost on the Korean Peninsula". | He was said to have condemned US B-2 bomber sorties over South Korea as a "reckless phase" that represented an "ultimatum that they will ignite a nuclear war at any cost on the Korean Peninsula". |
US mainland and bases in Hawaii, Guam and South Korea were all named as potential targets. | US mainland and bases in Hawaii, Guam and South Korea were all named as potential targets. |
North Korea's most advanced missiles are thought to be able to reach Alaska, but not the rest of the US mainland. | |
'Increasing military activity' | |
State media in the North showed thousands of soldiers and students at a mass rally in Pyongyang supporting of Kim Jong-un's announcement. | |
China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, immediately reiterated its call for all sides to ease tensions. | China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, immediately reiterated its call for all sides to ease tensions. |
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news conference that "joint efforts" should be made to turn around a "tense situation". | |
He made similar remarks on Tuesday. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov went further, voicing concern that "we may simply let the situation slip out of our control and it will slide into a spiral of a vicious circle". | |
"We are concerned that... unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," he said. | |
In an earlier statement, the US military said that the B-2 stealth bombers demonstrated America's ability to "provide extended deterrence" to its allies and conduct "long-range, precision strikes quickly and at will". | |
"The North Koreans have to understand that what they're doing is very dangerous," US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters on Thursday. | |
"We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that." | |
The US had already flown nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over South Korea earlier this month, in what it called a response to escalating North Korean threats. | The US had already flown nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over South Korea earlier this month, in what it called a response to escalating North Korean threats. |
Tensions in the Korean peninsula have been high since North Korea's third nuclear test on 12 February, which led to the imposition of fresh sanctions. | |
North Korea has made multiple threats against both the US and South Korea in recent weeks, including warning of a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on the US and the scrapping of the Korean War armistice. | North Korea has made multiple threats against both the US and South Korea in recent weeks, including warning of a "pre-emptive nuclear strike" on the US and the scrapping of the Korean War armistice. |
While North Korea has issued many threats against the US and South Korea in the past, this level of sustained rhetoric is rare, observers say. | While North Korea has issued many threats against the US and South Korea in the past, this level of sustained rhetoric is rare, observers say. |
On 16 March, North Korea warned of attacks against South Korea's border islands, and advised residents to leave the islands. | |
In 2010 it shelled South Korea's Yeonpyeong island, causing four deaths. | |
On Wednesday, Pyongyang also cut a military hotline with the South - the last direct official link between the two nations. | On Wednesday, Pyongyang also cut a military hotline with the South - the last direct official link between the two nations. |
A Red Cross hotline and another line used to communicate with the UN Command at Panmunjom have already been cut, although an inter-Korean air-traffic hotline still exists. | A Red Cross hotline and another line used to communicate with the UN Command at Panmunjom have already been cut, although an inter-Korean air-traffic hotline still exists. |
The jointly run Kaesong industrial park is still in operation. |
Previous version
1
Next version