Steve Herman
SEOUL — There is growing concern in Northeast Asia that North Korea is about to conduct another provocative missile firing.
South Korean and U.S. forces in the country are said to have gone to a reconnaissance posture, just one notch below that of wartime.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense is referring questions about the surveillance level to the U.S.-led U.N. Command, which says it does not comment about security conditions.
The reported status change from Watch Condition (Watchcon) 3 to 2 comes amid indications of missiles on mobile launchers in North Korea. Watchcon 2 comes into effect when there are indications of a vital threat.
South Korea's semi-official news agency, Yonhap, says the change went into effect Wednesday.
A top U.S. military officer, Admiral Samuel Locklear, confirmed before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington that at least one medium-range ballistic missile has been moved to North Korea's east coast.
The missile, which may have a range of up to 5,000 kilometers, is known as the Musudan and has never been tested.
Locklear, who heads the Pacific Command, said the U.S. military is able to intercept a ballistic missile fired by North Korea that would threaten U.S. bases or any of America's allies in the Pacific, including South Korea and Japan.
The committee's chairman, Senator Carl Levin, asked Locklear for details about a new joint counter-provocation plan with South Korea.
It outlines types of responses to limited military action by North Korea.
The admiral said he was hesitant to provide specifics during open testimony.
“I am supportive of the plan and I think it's a good one. And we will continue to revise it as time goes on," he said. "But are you satisfied that we would be ready if there were such a limited military action from North Korea?” “I am satisfied that we're ready today, yes.”
Despite the increasing tension on the peninsula, the mood remains calm in the South Korean capital, Seoul, and the metropolitan area where more than 20 million people reside - nearly half the country's population.
The U.S. State Department says it is not advising its citizens to consider leaving nor is there any reason to avoid visiting the country.
North Korea on Monday suggested that foreigners in the South should depart because all-out war could break out at any time.
South Korea's presidential office says Pyongyang's attempt to create fear among foreigners will fail and it is merely psychological warfare.
The unusual advisory to expatriates in the South is the latest in a series of statements made by the North that have prompted international concern and condemnation.
After recent ballistic missile and nuclear tests, Pyongyang renounced the 1953 cease-fire agreement, vowed to conduct a preemptive nuclear strike on U.S. territory, and declared a state of war between the North and South.
This week, it is keeping 50,000 workers away from the only joint venture between the two Koreas, a factory complex at Kaesong.
Despite all of this, military and intelligence sources say there are no indications that North Korea has mobilized its army, which is one of the world's largest.
This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.