North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered front-line military units to enter "a wartime state" after an exchange of fire with South Korea, his country's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday.
The announcement, employing bellicose language typical of North Korea, adds to the edgy situation in the region.
The two sides traded artillery fire over their heavily fortified border on Thursday afternoon, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.
Two shells came from the North Korean side, the ministry said, and South Korea fired dozens of shells in response.
No casualties were reported from the exchange of fire.
North Korea hasn't given a detailed account of events, but the KCNA report Friday accused South Korea of committing a "military provocation."
Kim presided over an emergency meeting of the North's Central Military Commission late Thursday, issuing an order that the army's "front-line large combined units" should "enter a wartime state to be fully battle ready to launch surprise operations," KCNA said.
He also ordered that "the area along the front be put in a semi-war state," according to the report. The measures are to take effect from 5 p.m. Friday local time.
North Korea orders border troops into 'wartime state' - CNN.com
The announcement, employing bellicose language typical of North Korea, adds to the edgy situation in the region.
The two sides traded artillery fire over their heavily fortified border on Thursday afternoon, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.
Two shells came from the North Korean side, the ministry said, and South Korea fired dozens of shells in response.
No casualties were reported from the exchange of fire.
North Korea hasn't given a detailed account of events, but the KCNA report Friday accused South Korea of committing a "military provocation."
Kim presided over an emergency meeting of the North's Central Military Commission late Thursday, issuing an order that the army's "front-line large combined units" should "enter a wartime state to be fully battle ready to launch surprise operations," KCNA said.
He also ordered that "the area along the front be put in a semi-war state," according to the report. The measures are to take effect from 5 p.m. Friday local time.
North Korea orders border troops into 'wartime state' - CNN.com