N. Korea standoff

U.S. reducing rhetoric that feeds North Korean belligerence

By Barbara Starr and Tom Cohen, CNN

updated 6:22 PM EDT, Thu April 4, 2013

U.S. ready to calm North Korea tensions

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• FIRST ON CNN: Communications intercepts suggest possibility of North Korea missile launch
• NEW: State Department focuses on diplomacy in discussing North Korea
• North Korea issues more threats, but said to lack missile technology to strike U.S. mainland
• The Obama administration says it continues to monitor the situation

Washington (CNN) -- Recent announcements of American military deployments in response to belligerent statements by North Korea may have contributed to escalating tensions between the two countries, Pentagon officials told CNN Thursday in explaining an effort to reduce U.S. rhetoric about the reclusive state.

"We accused the North Koreans of amping things up, now we are worried we did the same thing," one Defense Department official said.

The officials spoke on the same day a U.S. official first told CNN that communications intercepts indicated North Korea may be planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee in Seoul that the North has moved a medium-range missile to its East coast for an imminent test firing or military drill, according to the semi-official South Korean news agency Yonhap.

 

 

US working diplomatic channels to resolve N. Korea standoff, amid shows of strength

Published April 04, 2013

FoxNews.com

• 
• • 

As the Pentagon flies B-2 bombers over the Korean Peninsula and strengthens its missile-defense posture in the region, U.S. officials are steadily working the diplomatic channels around North Korea -- in a bid to dial down tensions before things get "hotter." 

Analysts largely consider the biggest threat from North Korea's daily provocations to be the possibility the regime could go too far in needling South Korea, prompting a military response that drags the U.S. and other allies into a broad conflict. Some have described that scenario as an "accidental" war -- meaning diplomacy is key in preventing that outcome. 

Newly minted Secretary of State John Kerry is dabbling in several agenda items including trying to unfreeze Middle East peace talks, but is planning a round of meetings with North Korea's neighbors next week. He's also held talks with South Korean and Chinese officials in recent days.