re: Things are heating up again in Korea (UPDATE IN OP: US Mobilizes 2nd ID)

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@AFP 2m2 minutes ago
#BREAKING: US military top officer pledges to defend S. Korea: official

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SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- The rival parties Saturday urged North Korea to immediately halt all possible provocations that would heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula after its shelling attack.

Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, and floor leader Won Yoo-chul, made the call in a joint statement issued during a meeting with their opposition counterparts Moon Jae-in and Lee Jong-kul of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).

The leaders also urged authorities of the two Koreas to engage in a dialogue in order to peacefully resolve the tension.

"The government should manage this situation firmly and peacefully," the statement said. "The political circle promises to halt all political strife and respond in a non-partisan way with every confidence in the military's ability to ensure national security and the people's safety," it added.

The meeting was announced just hours before the North Korea-set deadline of 5 p.m. for defusing the latest crisis.

On Thursday, North Korea threatened to launch "strong military action" unless South Korea halts anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts along the border and dismantles all loudspeakers within 48 hours.

South Korea has vowed to continue the psychological warfare it resumed earlier this month for the first time in 11 years. It was meant to retaliate against North Korea for a recent landmine attack that left two South Korean soldiers severely injured.

South Korea accused the North of planting the mines inside the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, a charge denied by North Korea.

Separately, Kim plans to hold a meeting with top party officials to discuss the latest situation at 5 p.m.

The NPAD said its top officials are on standby for a quick response to the North's possible provocations.

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CST 2:04 am, Korea local time 4:04 pm:
There's nothing new coming out, just the stuff we already know, like evacuations, people are wanting for this to end peacefully, etc, etc. They're waiting for the deadline for the 48 hour ultimatum, which is 1 hour away. Also looks like reporters are standing by in the Korean Defense Ministry Press Conference Room.
The North Korean TV linked by /u/JeanVanDeVelde[1] is showing some North Korean drama at the moment.

CST 2:20 am, Korea local time 4:20 pm:
YTN brought in two experts to discuss why NK suddenly wants to talk. I think what they're saying is roughly that NK simultaneously wants to confuse the world, with the aggressive military action and diplomatic talking, but also was a little surprised that SK is no longer just taking things lying down. Also they're taking into consideration the international reactions, most notably from Russia, China, and the United Nations. They're also talking about possible conditions that NK and SK might put forth, I think they're saying things that will put the other in a difficult position (I'm not too sure, news uses lots of high-level words i'm not familiar with). But they're also saying that while the talks are going on, they expect the tensions to decrease since NK will most likely not make any move during the talks.
North Korean TV is continuing to show drama.

CST 2:22 am, Korea local time 4:22 pm:
One thing that has caught my attention is that both experts are advocating that SK should take a strong stance and control the pace of the talks and not be as yielding as we have been in the past. Sound bites include "Not be naive." "Take it in the direction that we want to"

CST 2:24 am, Korea local time 4:24 pm:
Experts are mentioning that possible cause of NK being this aggressive might be stress, not in just the famine/drought, but also Kim Jong Un's health issues. So desperation.

CST 2:27 am, Korea local time 4:27 pm:
"Delegates from both sides should be leaving for Panmunjeom soon" They're also talking about the significance in the fact that the talks will be held on the South Korean side of Panmunjeom. I didn't know this.

CST 2:30 am, Korea local time 4:30 pm:
The Unification Road leading to Panmunjeom is getting crowded, by the look from the cameras. Experts are discussing how NK has been denying involvement in Cheonan cruiser incident and all these incidents and SK should aim to get apologies. Also, SK delegates have headed towards Panmunjeom (appeared on the camera on Unification Road, which is 9km from Panmunjeom.
NK TV still showing drama.

CST 2:34 am, Korea local time 4:34 pm:
Talks might last days, much less hours. They also mention how NK's failures with the rockets and how each test is very taxing on the country, and this is a pressure point that we should try to press.

CST 2:37 am, Korea local time 4:37 pm:
Call with IBK Economic Research Institute's Cho Bong Hyun who is in Dandong on the Chinese side of the border with NK. Saying traffic into NK has stopped. Chinese are somewhat worried and puzzled at situation. Of course, anxiety.

CST 2:43 am, Korea local time 4:43 pm:
Talking about previous meetings between Hwang Byeon Seo (NK Vice Marshal of army) and Kim Gwan Jin (Chief of National Security SK), including at the Asian Games(?) Experts have left, news interrupted by weather forecast and ads. (:p)

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SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military continued to stay on high alert for the possibility of a clash with North Korea Saturday despite an inter-Korean dialogue scheduled later in the day to defuse tension on the Korean Peninsula, military officials said.

"The military is maintaining its policy to stay on the highest-level vigilance posture set since the North Korean military's shelling provocation on Aug. 20," a military official said on the customary condition of anonymity.

"Since North Korea could launch provocations even during an inter-Korean dialogue, our troops are maintaining their utmost readiness posture," he noted.

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Ads are still rolling, but they're rolling headlines, apparently NK has urgently asked for Kim Gwan Jin and unusually used the term ???? (Republic of Korea) instead of whatever they usually call us when addressing Kim. (South Choseon, derogative terms, etc)
NK still showing drama.

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Talks will be 2 on 2. SK: Kim Gwan Jin and one of his subordinates (didn't catch name), NK: Hwang Byeon Seo and one of his (again, no name). First time they're meeting since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. They're starting to repeat a lot speculation that they aired earlier.

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Military remains on high alert, US and SK are conducting a lot of joint training and exercises just in case, etc, etc. They've recapped the events that have led to this in the past few days for like the 3rd time that I've watched now -_-

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