Tension Between South, North Korea Heightens After Exchange of Fire

A file picture released by the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling North Korean Workers Party, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) arriving at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, North Korea, 15 April 2015. Photo: EPA

The tensions between South Korea and North Korea have heightened after an exchange of artillery fire across their heavily fortified border on Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered his front-line troops to be in full preparedness and declared a state of “semi-state of war” at an emergency meeting late on Thursday, the BBC reports.

Kim Jong-un called on South Korea to end its border propaganda broadcasts against North Korea and dismantle the loudspeakers within 48 hours, otherwise he threatened to take military action.

The latest escalation of tension occurred after North Korea fired shells at loudspeakers, to which South Korea responded with artillery fire.

No casualties were reported after the exchange of artillery fire.

South Korea ordered the evacuation of residents from an area of its western border.

In 2004, the two countries reached an agreement to dismantle their propaganda loudspeakers at the border.

In August, South Korea restarted the broadcast after two of its soldiers had been injured by a landmine explosion in the demilitarised zone.

 

 

 

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