North Korea has put troops on full alert near the border — KCNA

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) gave the order to bring artillery formations near the border line into full readiness for firing. This is reported by the Central Telegraph Agency of Korea.

"The representative [of the DPRK Ministry of Defense] announced the preliminary operational order of the KPA General Staff dated October 12, according to which artillery formations near the border line and units responsible for carrying out an important firing task should be in full readiness for firing," the report said, quoted by TASS.

The order, according to an employee of the Ministry of Defense, concerns eight artillery brigades manned by wartime staff. They were ordered to come to full readiness, at which it would only be necessary to wait for the order to open fire, by 20.00 local time (14.00 Moscow time) on October 13.

The KPA General Staff has ordered units and units at all levels to strengthen surveillance and guard duty, and air defense observation posts have been strengthened in the DPRK capital Pyongyang.