North Korea goes on war footing against South Korea as deadline looms

News.yahoo.com reports:

North Korea put its troops on a war footing on Friday as South Korea rejected an ultimatum to stop propaganda broadcasts or face military action, prompting China to voice concern and urge both sides to step back after an exchange of artillery fire.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said the country's military and the public stood ready to safeguard its regime even if it meant fighting an all-out war, and rejected the idea of restraint in an apparent rebuff to China's call.

North Korea's official media said its military was not bluffing, and the deputy North Korean ambassador to the United Nations, An Myong Hun, reiterated Pyongyang's threat of "strong military counter-action" if the South Korean broadcasts did not stop.

An also told reporters North Korea had asked the 15-member United Nations Security Council to hold an urgent meeting on the situation...

South Korea rejected an ultimatum that it halt anti-Pyongyang broadcasts by Saturday afternoon or face attack.

It began blasting anti-North propaganda over the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the countries on Aug. 10, resuming a tactic both sides had stopped in 2004, a few days after landmines wounded two South Korean soldiers along the DMZ...