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North Korea moves missiles to east coast North Korea moves missiles to east coast
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North Korea has reportedly positioned two intermediate-range missiles on to mobile launchers on the east coast as tensions in the region continue to escalate despite international efforts to defuse the situation. North Korea has reportedly positioned two intermediate-range missiles on to mobile launchers on its east coast, as tensions in the region continue to escalate despite international efforts to defuse the situation.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing Seoul military sources, said the rockets were Musudan missiles, believed to have a range of at least 1,875 miles, which would put South Korea and Japan in range and possibly the US territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. The report could not be confirmed. South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited Seoul military sources as saying the rockets were Musudan missiles, believed to have a range of at least 1,875 miles, which would put South Korea and Japan and possibly the US territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean in range. The report could not be confirmed.
Yonhap reported that South Korea had reacted to threats from the North by deploying two battleships capable of intercepting and destroying ballistic missiles. The US has already moved interceptor missiles and warships to the region to defend against a possible attack. Yonhap reported that South Korea had reacted to the threats from Pyongyang by deploying two battleships capable of intercepting and destroying ballistic missiles. The US has already moved interceptor missiles and warships to the region to defend against a possible attack.
Meanwhile, North Korea has contacted foreign embassies in the country in what Britain has described as "continuing rhetoric that the UK poses a threat to them". Meanwhile, North Korea has contacted foreign embassies in the country in what Britain has described as "continuing rhetoric that the US poses a threat to them".
It told foreign embassies to consider evacuating if tensions flare, China's official news agency, Xinhua, reported, citing diplomatic sources. It told foreign embassies to consider evacuating if tensions flare, China's official Xinhua news agency reported, citing diplomatic sources.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Pyongyang confirmed North Korea had asked it to consider evacuating staff. The spokesman, Denis Samsonov, told Reuters Russia was examining the request but was not planning to evacuate at this stage as there were no outward signs of tension in the North Korean capital. A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Pyongyang confirmed that North Korea had asked it to consider evacuating staff. Denis Samsonov told Reuters that Russia was examining the request, but was not planning to evacuate at this stage as there were no outward signs of tension in the North Korean capital.
However, the UK Foreign Office said its embassy had only been asked whether its staff intended to leave and not instructed to consider evacuation. The Foreign Office said the British embassy had only been asked whether its staff intended to leave and had not been instructed to consider evacuation.
It added: "The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) has responsibilities under the Vienna convention to protect diplomatic missions, and we believe they have taken this step as part of their continuing rhetoric that the US poses a threat to them. We are considering next steps, including a change to our travel advice." It added: "The DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] has responsibilities under the Vienna convention to protect diplomatic missions, and we believe they have taken this step as part of their continuing rhetoric that the US poses a threat to them. We are considering next steps, including a change to our travel advice."
There are doubts about the Musudan's accuracy and range, and some suspect long-range missiles unveiled by Pyongyang at a parade last year were mock-ups.There are doubts about the Musudan's accuracy and range, and some suspect long-range missiles unveiled by Pyongyang at a parade last year were mock-ups.
The South Korean defence minister said on Thursday that Pyongyang had moved a missile with considerable range to its east coast, but insisted there were no signs that North Korea was preparing for a full-scale conflict. Kim Kwan-jin added that he did not know why the North had moved the missile but suggested it "could be for testing or drills". The South Korean defence minister said on Thursday that Pyongyang had moved a missile with considerable range to its east coast, but insisted there were no signs that North Korea was preparing for a full-scale conflict. Kim Kwan-jin said he did not know why the North had moved the missile but suggested it "could be for testing or drills".
The tit-for-tat moves will reinforce fears of a downward spiral. On Thursday, the US state department responded to questions suggesting that it was not helping the situation by insisting that it had no choice but to respond in this way. The tit-for-tat moves will reinforce fears of a downward spiral. On Thursday, the US state department responded to questions suggesting that it had not helped the situation by insisting it had no choice but to respond in this way.
"When you have a country that is making the kind of bellicose statements and taking the kind of steps that they have, you have to take it seriously and you have to take steps to defend the US and its allies," said a spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland. "The ratcheting up of tension on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea side was the cause of us shoring up our defensive posture." "When you have a country that is making the kind of bellicose statements and taking the kind of steps that they have, you have to take it seriously and you have to take steps to defend the US and its allies," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "The ratcheting up of tension on the DPRK side was the cause of us shoring up our defensive posture."
However, Washington also announced fresh moves to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis, revealing that it had made a phonecall to officials in Beijing to ask them to press North Korea to tone down its rhetoric. Washington also announced fresh moves to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis, revealing that it had made a phonecall to officials in Beijing to ask them to press Pyongyang to tone down its rhetoric.
The secretary of state, John Kerry, is due to meet his counterpart in Beijing on a scheduled visit to Asia, and the South Korean leader, Park Geun-hye, is also due to meet President Barack Obama in the US for talks next week. The secretary of state, John Kerry, is due to meet his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on a scheduled visit to Asia. The South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, is also due to meet Barack Obama in the US for talks next week.
The state department said it was optimistic that the international alliance calling on the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programme would hold firm and "recognise the threat we share is common and that we are stronger if we work together".The state department said it was optimistic that the international alliance calling on the North to abandon its nuclear weapons programme would hold firm and "recognise the threat we share is common and that we are stronger if we work together".
Nuland urged Pyongyang to return to the international community and see an end to sanctions. "This does not have to get hotter," she said. "They just have to comply with their international obligations."Nuland urged Pyongyang to return to the international community and see an end to sanctions. "This does not have to get hotter," she said. "They just have to comply with their international obligations."
In the past week there have been a growing series of threats in the most significant bout of sabre-rattling since an artillery exchange between the North and South in 2010. North Korea also closed the shared Kaesong industrial zone and vowed to restart a mothballed nuclear plant. In the past week North Korea has issued a stream of threats in the most significant bout of sabre-rattling since an artillery exchange between the North and South in 2010. It also closed the shared Kaesong industrial zone and vowed to restart a mothballed nuclear plant.
Although officials in South Korea stress they do not think an attack is imminent, the risk of accidental conflict is high after North Korea withdrew from a system of hotlines. The South also adopted a more proactive deterrence strategy after attacks by the North in 2010, threatening to respond with disproportionate force to any future provocation. Officials in South Korea stress they do not think an attack is imminent, but the risk of accidental conflict is high after North Korea withdrew from a system of hotlines. Seoul also adopted a more proactive deterrence strategy after attacks by the North in 2010, threatening to respond with disproportionate force to any future provocation.
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