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| North Korea enters 'state of war' with South | North Korea enters 'state of war' with South |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has said it is entering a "state of war" with South Korea in the latest escalation of rhetoric against its neighbour and the US. | |
| A statement promised "stern physical actions" against "any provocative act". | A statement promised "stern physical actions" against "any provocative act". |
| North Korea has threatened attacks almost daily after it was sanctioned for a third nuclear test in February. | North Korea has threatened attacks almost daily after it was sanctioned for a third nuclear test in February. |
| However, few think the North would risk full-blown conflict, and the two sides have technically been at war since 1953 as no peace treaty has been signed. | However, few think the North would risk full-blown conflict, and the two sides have technically been at war since 1953 as no peace treaty has been signed. |
| An armistice at the end of the Korean War was never turned into a full treaty. | An armistice at the end of the Korean War was never turned into a full treaty. |
| 'Taking threats seriously' | 'Taking threats seriously' |
| The North carried out its third nuclear test on 12 February, which led to the imposition of fresh sanctions. | The North carried out its third nuclear test on 12 February, which led to the imposition of fresh sanctions. |
| The annual US-South Korean military exercises have also taken place, angering Pyongyang further. | The annual US-South Korean military exercises have also taken place, angering Pyongyang further. |
| Many analysts believe that all-out war with South Korea and its ally the United States would be suicidal for the North, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul. | Many analysts believe that all-out war with South Korea and its ally the United States would be suicidal for the North, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul. |
| But with both sides threatening heavy retaliation, there's a chance of minor incidents escalating, our correspondent adds. | But with both sides threatening heavy retaliation, there's a chance of minor incidents escalating, our correspondent adds. |
| A North Korean statement released on Saturday said: "From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly. | A North Korean statement released on Saturday said: "From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly. |
| "The long-standing situation of the Korean peninsula being neither at peace nor at war is finally over." | "The long-standing situation of the Korean peninsula being neither at peace nor at war is finally over." |
| In Washington, Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said the US had "seen reports of a new and unconstructive statement from North Korea". | In Washington, Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said the US had "seen reports of a new and unconstructive statement from North Korea". |
| "We take these threats seriously and remain in close contact with our South Korean allies," she said. | "We take these threats seriously and remain in close contact with our South Korean allies," she said. |
| 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. |
| On Thursday, North Korean state media reported leader Kim Jong-un "judged the time has come to settle accounts with the US imperialists". | On Thursday, 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 during military exercises 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 during military exercises 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. |
| State media in the North showed thousands of soldiers and students at a mass rally in Pyongyang supporting Kim Jong-un's announcement | State media in the North showed thousands of soldiers and students at a mass rally in Pyongyang supporting Kim Jong-un's announcement |
| North Korea's most advanced missiles are thought to be able to reach Alaska, but not the rest of the US mainland. | North Korea's most advanced missiles are thought to be able to reach Alaska, but not the rest of the US mainland. |
| 'Unilateral action' | 'Unilateral action' |
| White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the rhetoric only deepened North Korea's isolation. | White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the rhetoric only deepened North Korea's isolation. |
| China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, has reiterated its call for all sides to ease tensions. | China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, has 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". | Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news conference that "joint efforts" should be made to turn around a "tense situation". |
| Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov went further, voicing concern that "we may simply let the situation slip out of our control". | Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov went further, voicing concern that "we may simply let the situation slip out of our control". |
| "We are concerned that... unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," he said. | "We are concerned that... unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," he said. |
| On 16 March, North Korea warned of attacks against South Korea's border islands, and advised residents to leave the islands. | 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. | 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. | The jointly run Kaesong industrial park is still in operation. |