North Korea tensions see DEFCON level RAISED over nuclear war threat
GETTY - EPA Tensions in the Korean peninsula continue to run high
Last week US President Donald Trump threatened the hermit state with “fire and fury” should it continue to test missiles and issue threats to the West. Now, the Defcon warning system, which has monitored and assessed nuclear threats against the US for more than 33 years, has been upped from its lowest level to level four. A report said while there does not appear to be an “imminent nuclear threat”, there are events which are beginning to require close attention. The statement said: “Tensions between North Korea and the United States are reaching almost a fever pitch, with new threats coming out every day.
“Most of the rhetoric is bluster, however, and diplomatic communications continue to be open, though through backdoor channels. “There have been no military movements of concern at this time, and there does not appear to be any sign of an impending attack by either side. “Nevertheless, the threat level remains high and is concerning. “Each side is taking very seriously the threats made by the other, and both the United States and North Korea are currently on the defensive, with North Korea expecting some kind of action.”
EPA Kim Jong-Un vowed to fire four ballistic missiles in the direction of the US
REUTERS Donald Trump threatened the hermit state with “fire and fury”
It comes just days after its previous report on August 1 which saw the DEFCON level was ranked at five - its lowest. The Defense readiness Condition (DEFCON) is an alert system used by the United States Armed Forces, and is widely regarded as a reliable gage of global tensions. The level has fluctuated over recent months, as tensions in the Korean peninsula continue to run high while Washington refuses to rule out a military strike against the dictatorship in response to any attacks. And it was revealed Mr Trump has a “dramatic solution” if diplomacy fails, according to his former White House director of communications Anthony Scaramucci.
Never-before seen pics: North Korea missile programme Wed, August 9, 2017 These images contained scenes from the early years of North Korea's missile programme under Kim Il Sung, the country's founder, until the most recent ICBM test on July 4 Play slideshow North Korea State Media 1 of 187
Last week North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un responded to Mr Trump's comments with a vow to fire four ballistic missiles in the direction of the US state of Guam – 2,000km from North Korea. The state’s official KCNA news agency said: “War cannot be blocked by any power if sparks fly due to a small, random incident that was unintentional. "Any second Korean War would have no choice but to spread into a nuclear war.” Yesterday it was revealed North Korea could be preparing another missile launch.
Joseph Bermudez, a specialist on North Korean defence, posted aerial images on the 38 North blog that he claims show the hermit state could be preparing to release a submarine ballistic missile. He said: “Recent commercial satellite imagery reveals several developments suggesting that North Korea may be accelerating the development of the sea-based leg of its nuclear forces." While the CIA director Mike Pompeo added he would not be surprised if North Korea was about to carry out another missile test. He told Fox News: "I am quite confident that (Kim Jong-un) will continue to try to develop his missile programme, so it wouldn't surprise me if there was another missile test.
GETTY North Korea has already released several missiles for testing this year