North Korea tells soldiers that 'total war is imminent’

<em>Soliders in North Korea are being told to prepare for war (Rex)</em>
Soliders in North Korea are being told to prepare for war (Rex)

North Korea may not have gone through with their threat to attack Guam but it is reportedly still prepping its soldiers for war.

The secretive state backed down on launching missiles on the US territory in the Pacific earlier this month but an attack is apparently still on its mind.

According to Daily NK, authorities in North Korea has been emphasising a “combat readiness” posture for “total war” with the United States.

However, starved soldiers are said to be more concerned about eating, and have resorted to stealing food.

A source told the publication: “The military officers are instructing their soldiers, exhausted after training, to eat corn in the fields because war is imminent.

<em>Kim Jong-un has threatened to launch missiles against Guam (Rex)</em>
Kim Jong-un has threatened to launch missiles against Guam (Rex)

“They are even threatening their soldiers, saying, ‘If you become malnourished despite permission to eat the corn, you will face difficulties.’”

Tensions between North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, and the west remain heightened.

Theresa May said today that the country’s missile programme presents an “unprecedented threat to international security”.

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The Prime Minister vowed to speed up the implementation of sanctions against the regime as a result.

At a press conference alongside Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister said the UK condemned the latest missile launch in the “strongest terms possible”.

Mrs May’s presence in Tokyo comes after Pyongyang launched a missile which flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

<em>Theresa May and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea’s missile launch (PA)</em>
Theresa May and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea’s missile launch (PA)

Mr Abe said the launch of the missile which flew over Japan was “outrageous”, adding: “This is an unprecedented serious and grave threat.

“We absolutely do not tolerate the nuclear and missile development by North Korea.”

In London, the Foreign Office summoned North Korea’s ambassador Choe Il for a meeting with Asia Minister Mark Field to underscore the UK’s position on the missile programme.

It is understood the United Nations is discussing increasing sanctions against North Korea, including stopping it selling oil products to China.