North Korea "Readies Missiles"

Et erunt signa in sole et luna et stellis, et in terris pressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris et fluctuum. (Luke 21:25)

Yonhap News Agency reports North Korea has deployed SA-2 surface-to-air missiles to its west coast near the Yellow Sea border with South Korea.

The United States and South Korea has begun military drills and China calls for emergency talks.

The Soviet-designed SA-2 missile has a range of between 13 and 30 kilometers.

Other missiles on the North's west coast, such as the Samlet and Silkworm with ranges of up to 95km, have also been put onto launch pads.

The chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly will visit China from Tuesday, the official Xinhua news agency said.

China has not taken sides in the conflict and declined to blame North Korea, for the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel in March.

Washington says the drill is intended as a deterrent after the worst assault on South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953, according to Yahoo! News.

The nuclear-powered carrier USS George Washington, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of over 6.000, has joined the exercises and will be accompanied by at least four other U.S. warships, an official from U.S. Forces Korea told Reuters.

South Korea has deployed three destroyers, frigates and anti-submarine aircraft, Yonhap reported, adding the exercises were being held far south of the disputed area where the artillery firing took place on Tuesday.

I think it is brilliant the U.S. shows up with power in the area, and with a military drill, because it will prevent war and a further escalation of hostilities.

I also commend China for its diplomatic efforts.

"Exsurget autem gens super gentem, et regnum super regnum, et erunt terraemotus per loca, et fames; initium dolorum haec", Mark 13:8.