North Korean leader Kim Jong-un froze until further notice the missile launch plan for the US Pacific island of Guam, while calls for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula were heightened after concern over a military confrontation between Washington and Pyongyang.
The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Tuesday that Kim, while inspecting the headquarters of the strategic force in charge of the missile units, was briefed on a plan to launch medium-range missiles into waters near Guam's island of 6,000 US military personnel.
Kim said he would watch for what he called the insane and stupid behavior of the Americans, warning that he would order the plan to be implemented in response to what he called any new reckless act by Washington. The plan was supposed to be implemented mid-month by Huasong 12 missiles.
It showed pictures of Kim Jong Il holding a stick and pointing to a map showing an air course of missiles that were supposed to be launched these days from the east coast of North Korea and flying over Japan towards Guam Island. At a time when the decision to freeze the missile launch plan seemed a sign of a possible reduction of the severity of the Korean crisis.
On the island of Guam, al-Jazeera correspondent Raed Fakih said the North Korean announcement was good news on the island, which was tense and anticipating a possible missile attack. He added that the population received last week letters and leaflets explaining how to deal with a nuclear missile, pointing out that a wrong warning was issued last night in one of the island's areas, which has a population of more than 160 thousand - which caused panic.
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From @kaib