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Journalism of Courage
A top South Korean national security official said Sunday that North Korea may be setting the stage for a missile test or another provocative act with its warning that it soon will be unable to guarantee diplomats safety in Pyongyang. But he added that the Norths clearest objective is to extract concessions from Washington and Seoul.
Many nations are deciding what to do about the notice,which said their diplomats safety in Pyongyang cannot be guaranteed beginning this Wednesday.
Citing North Koreas suggestion that diplomats leave the country,South Korean President Park Geun-hyes national security director said Pyongyang may be planning a missile launch or another provocation around Wednesday,according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing.
During a meeting with other South Korean officials,the official,Kim Jang-Soo also said the notice to diplomats and other recent North Korean actions are an attempt to stoke security concerns and to force South Korea and the US to offer a dialogue.
Kim Jang-Soo said the North would face severalfold damages for any hostilities.
Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang led South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff to announce Sunday that its chairman had put off a visit to Washington.
Need to avoid chaos,says Xi
BOAO: In an indirect but clear reference to the North Korean crisis,Chinas president,Xi Jinping,said Sunday that no country should be allowed to threaten world peace.
No one should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain, the President said during a speech in Boao,China.
Xi did not name any countries or disputes,but in separate remarks,Chinas Foreign Ministry on Sunday repeated its grave concern over the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. NYT
