North Korean Missile Threat: Nation Calls Back Reservists; Will North Korea Attack America?

CNN reported today that North Korea has raised at least one missile - a medium-range variety called the Musudan -- into firing position. The missile is an untested weapon, though South Korea says its range could reach 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles). Reuters reported the missile was deployed on North Korea's east coast and fueled and prepared for launch.

On April 9th, the Independent wrote that North Korea was calling back farmers who were part of the military reserves so that they could help the nation prepare the spring crops. About seven million North Koreans are heading to state-owned farms to take part in the annual ritual of manure production, which is crucially important to the impoverished nation. The Independent quoted an article from Dailynk.com, a website dedicated to North Korean news, as saying that "Until last month there were worker and peasant Red Guards and other reserves on the streets, all in uniform with their backpacks and guns, but now there are only workers with shovels and hoes, mobilized to produce manure for farms." The nation was said to have seen a leap in agricultural production after a new pay-based incentive system for farmers was implemented last year.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with foreign businessmen today in part to reassure them of the country's safety. Even as Pyongyang said foreigners should leave, hotels in Seoul reported business was brisk as usual.

But on Wednesday, South Korea also raised its national alert level to "vital threat," one notch below actual war. Yung Byung-se, the South Korean foreign minister, said, "The possibility of a missile launch by North Korea is very high." He added that the UN Security Council would meet immediately after any such test was carried out.

Four or five missile launchers have been spotted via satellite image in North Korea's South Hamgyong province, and some experts think the country might be preparing to fire short-range Scud missiles into the sea in addition to the Musudan.

At a G8 meeting in London, foreign ministers from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia urged North Korea to "refrain from further provocative acts," condemning it "in the strongest possible terms."

North Korea also faces condemnation from its allies. Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, reportedly told Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, that China did not want "troublemaking at the doorstep." On Wednesday, tour groups were not permitted to cross over from the Chinese side of the border with North Korea. Similarly, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that "On North Korea, we have no differences with the United States."