N. Korean 'subs out for operations, artillery doubled,' talks with South resume

Rt.com North Korea has doubled its artillery power and the majority of its submarines seem to be away from their bases, a South Korean military official said, as cited by the Yonhap news agency. The announcement comes amid ongoing talks between the two sides over the border crisis. According to the official, more than 50 North Korean submarines are out for operations. "Seventy percent of North Korea's submarines left their bases, and their locations are not confirmed," a South Korean military official said, adding that Pyongyang has about 70 submarines in total. "It's a very serious situation," the official added. In the meantime, the Yonhap news agency reported that six South Korean fighter jets have returned home ahead of schedule from the Red Flag Alaska military drills. The F-16s were initially planned to fly back later this week. Tensions have recently escalated on the Korean peninsula after both sides exchanged fire on Thursday. Also on Thursday there were reports that South Korea had ordered the evacuation of some 15,000 civilians from the border area to the west of the Korean Peninsula, reportedly shelled by the North’s military...