Post by Focus on Apr 11, 2013 15:45:29 GMT
NORTH Korea has positioned a missile launcher into a 'firing position', according to reports in Japan.
Threats ... Kim has told foreigners to leave South Korea
And Kim Jong-un's war-rants will be high on the agenda as the G8 group of nations begin in London today.
Japan is on high alert in wake of North Korea's continuing rhetoric and has put missiles defences on guard in Tokyo.
Drill ... North Korea soldiers prepare
The government has authorized military personnel to shoot down anything fired from the secretive state.
Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said Thursday morning that so far Tokyo was responding by “gathering a variety of information ... with a sense of tension."
Propaganda ... military chiefs release photos of troops
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said North Korea was skating "very close to a dangerous line."
He added: "Their actions and their words have not helped defuse a combustible situation."
Analysts believe Kim Jong-un's forces are readying a missile dubbed the “Musudan,” named after the village where a northeastern launch pad is based.
Rocket ... Japan says missiles are ready to go
The missile has a range of 2,180 miles and could hit US military installments in Guam and Japan, experts say.
Pyongyang has upped its threats against South Korea and the US since a successful nuclear test in February.
This week, it warned that nuclear war was imminent and urged foreign tourists in South Korea to take cover.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said the G8 would discuss Korea today.
Tension ... scene at zone between North and South Korea
He said: "We've got many issues to discuss today around the themes of conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
"We are going to be discussing counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation - that will give us an opportunity to discuss the DPRK and Iran."
Grab ya hard hats folks ... the poison dwarf looks to be gearing up, the mad t**t!! - Fx