North Korea holds off on Guam missile plan
> Moon says will prevent war by all means
SEOUL: North Korea’s leader has delayed a decision on firing missiles towards Guam while he watches US actions a little longer, the North’s state media said yesterday, as South Korea’s president said Seoul would seek to prevent war by all means.
Signs of easing in tension on the Korean peninsula helped stock markets rally for a second day running even as the US and South Korea prepared for more joint military drills and experts warned North Korea could still proceed with its provocative plan.
In his first public appearance in two weeks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Monday inspected the Strategic Force command and examined a plan to fire four missiles to land near the US territory of Guam, KCNA news agency said.
“He said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of the DPRK, the latter will make an important decision as it already declared,” the report said.
The DPRK stands for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
In photos released with the report, Kim was seen holding a baton and pointing at a map showing a flight path for the missiles appearing to start from North Korea’s east coast, flying over Japan towards Guam.
North Korea has often threatened to attack the US and its bases and released similar photos in the past but never followed through.
The North’s plans to fire missiles near Guam prompted a surge in tensions in the region last week, with President Donald Trump saying the US military is “locked and loaded” if North Korea acted unwisely.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In said yesterday there would be no military action without Seoul’s consent and his office would prevent war by all means.
“Military action on the Korean peninsula can only be decided by South Korea and no one else can decide to take military action without the consent of South Korea,” Moon said in a speech to commemorate the anniversary of the nation’s liberation from Japanese military rule in 1945.
“The government, putting everything on the line, will block war by all means,” he said. – Reuters