North Korea put its rockets on standby Friday. The country reportedly has a plan to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after repeatedly threatening to attack.
This comes one day after American nuclear-capable stealth bombers from Missouri flew over an area of South Korea as part of a military exercise. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stated that the tests were routine and not intended to provoke North Korea.
North Korea's official state controlled news agency, KCNA, states that leader Kim Jong Un has "judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation."
Reuters reported the judgment occurred at a midnight meeting of top generals.
KCNA also published an article stating, "The opportunity for peacefully settling the DPRK-U.S. relations is no longer available as the U.S. opted for staking its fate."
It continued, "Consequently there remains only the settlement of accounts by a physical means." DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
A South Korean military official has reported "increased movement of vehicles and forces."
U.S. officials are considering this a "serious provocation phase" by Pyongyang. It's also causing concern about the possibility of missiles being fired on South Korea to draw that country, as well possibly the U.S., into a conflict.
"North Korea is not a paper tiger so it wouldn't be smart to dismiss its provocative behavior as pure bluster," said a U.S. official. "What's not clear right now is how much risk Kim Jong Un is willing to run to show the world and domestic elites that he's a tough guy."
The official emphasized the danger inherent in the unpredictable nature of the new leader, who is only 30-years old.
"His inexperience is certain, his wisdom is still very much in question," the official said. "We are closely watching possibilities of missile launches."
The Associated Press reported a mass demonstration in support of the communist leader in the main square of the capital, Pyongyang, on Friday.
Protestors carried placards reading, "Let's crush the puppet traitor group" and "Let's rip the puppet traitors to death!"
North Korea has become known for routinely issuing threatening statements, but analysts note they have become more aggressive recently. These latest statements follow a long-range rocket test and the detonation of a nuclear bomb as a test earlier this year.
Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Japan, China and South Korea next month to try to de-escalate the tension in the region.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
