Tues 9th August 2022, Election Day
N Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam plan but opts to waitNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reviewed plans to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, state media said, but would watch US actions before making a decision.Although prepared for "the enveloping fire at Guam", the North said it would watch what "the foolish Yankees" do.Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides.This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words.The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un "examined the plan for a long time" and discussed it with senior military officials.The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders "after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam".But, crucially, the report also added that the North Korean leader would watch the US, before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric.The BBC's Yogita Limaye in Seoul points out that this latest commentary talks of how to "defuse the tensions and prevent dangerous military conflict on the Korean peninsula".Our correspondent adds that after days of menacing threats from Pyongyang, it might seem that Kim Jong-un could be in the mood to finally hit the pause button - but in a nation as secretive as North Korea, one can never be sure.Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so could just be buying more time.
Topic: N Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam missile plan (Read 1207 times)