The video will start in 8 Cancel

News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The world is waiting for the next move of crazed dictator Kim Jong-un, after he warned that North Korea's military would attack the South at 8.30am on Saturday.

He told his troops last night to be 'fully ready for war' following an exchange of fire between the rival nations, declaring a 'quasi-state of war' and claiming that he will attack the South at 5pm Pyongyang time (8.30am UK time).

Tensions have spiked since yesterday, when South Korea fired a barrage of artillery rounds into North Korea after the North shelled across the border to protest against anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts.

Follow the latest updates on the situation in North Korea with our live blog

(Image: Getty) (Image: Getty) (Image: Getty)

Washington urged Pyongyang to halt any "provocative" actions in the wake of the first exchange of fire between the two Korea's since last October.

Both sides said there were no casualties or damage in their territory.

(Image: Getty / Reuters)

North Korea did not return fire but warned Seoul in a letter that it would take military action if the South did not stop the broadcasts along the border within 48 hours, the South's Defence Ministry said.

In a separate letter, Pyongyang said it was willing to resolve the issue even though it considered the broadcasts a declaration of war, South Korea's Unification Ministry said.

A South Korean military official said the broadcasts would continue.

Seoul began blasting anti-North Korean propaganda from loudspeakers on the border on August 10, resuming a tactic that both sides had stopped in 2004.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Getty)

South Korea said the North had fired one anti-aircraft shell followed by multiple shells on Thursday.

Its military, which said it fired "tens" of artillery rounds in response, raised its alert status to the highest level.

President Park Geun-hye told defence officials to "react firmly" to North Korean provocations, a spokesman quoted her as saying.

"Our military has stepped up monitoring and is closely watching North Korean military movements," South Korea's Defence Ministry said.

The North Korean army said the South fired 36 rounds, six of which landed near its guard posts, in a "reckless provocation," KCNA said.

The United States, which has about 28,500 military personnel in South Korea, said it was concerned and closely monitoring the situation.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Reuters) (Image: Getty)

US State Department spokesperson Katina Adams said: "Such provocative actions heighten tensions, and we call on Pyongyang to refrain from actions and rhetoric that threaten regional peace and security."

The Pentagon said it would "take prudent measures" to ensure the well-being of US personnel, but did not elaborate.

The first North Korean shell landed in an area about 60 km (35 miles) north of Seoul in the western part of the border zone, the defence ministry said.

Nearly 800 South Korean residents living nearby were ordered to evacuate and stay in shelters, officials said.

North Korea said the South's military "invented a case of 'shell fired by the North'," according to KCNA.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The two Koreas last exchanged fire in October, when North Korean soldiers approached the military border and did not retreat after the South fired warning shots, the South Korean Defence Ministry said at the time. There were no casualties.

Tension between the two Korea's has risen since early this month, when landmine explosions in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) of the border wounded two South Korean soldiers.

Seoul accused North Korea of laying the mines, which Pyongyang has denied.

The incident prompted Seoul to stage the propaganda broadcasts.

North Korea on Monday began conducting its own broadcasts.

Thursday's exchange of fire took place during annual joint US and South Korean military exercises.

The two Koreas have remained in a technical state of war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.