NORTH KOREA-SOUTH KOREA/DEFENCE MINISTER North and South Korea stand their ground as deadline looms

Record ID: 143094

  • Title: NORTH KOREA-SOUTH KOREA/DEFENCE MINISTER North and South Korea stand their ground as deadline looms
  • Date: 21st August 2015
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 21, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAN MIN-KOO WALKING IN, STANDING AT PODIUM AND BOWING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN DEFENCE MINISTER, HAN MIN-KOO, SAYING: "North Korea's offensive action is a significant provocation which squarely violates the ceasefire agreement and non-a
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA44RTN8YXAZ7FG6HMTMGJAKODL
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo pledged on Friday (August 21) to sever the 'vicious cycle of North Korea's provocations' as North and South Korea appeared headed towards another clash.
    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his troops onto a war footing from 5 p.m. (0730 GMT) on Friday after his government issued an ultimatum to Seoul to halt anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts by Saturday afternoon or face military action.
    "North Korea's offensive action is a significant provocation which squarely violates the ceasefire agreement and non-aggression agreement between North and South Korea and is a cowardly criminal act that shows its bellicosity," said Han in Seoul.
    "As a minister who is responsible for the national defence, this time, I will make sure to sever the vicious cycle of North Korea's provocations while keeping our people's safety as a priority," he added.
    The North's official KCNA news agency said its military was not bluffing and that its frontline units have completed preparations for combat.
    Tension escalated on Thursday (August 20) when North Korea fired four shells into South Korea, according to Seoul, in apparent protest against the broadcasts. The South fired back 29 artillery shells. Pyongyang accused the South of inventing a pretext to fire into the North.
    Both sides said there were no casualties or damage in their territory, an indication that the rounds were just warning shots.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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