North Korea to launch nuclear missile 'within hours'

Dictator ... Kim Jong Un

By KAREN MORRISON

NORTH Korea’s crackpot dictator Kim Jong-un is set to launch a nuclear missile within hours.

South Korea was forced to raise its alert levels to VITAL today as UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned the Korean peninsula may be slipping out of control.

The US and South Korea believe dictator Jong-un will test fire a nuclear-capable missile with a 3,000km (2,000-mile) range at any time.

South Korea ... soldiers practice

He is also unlikely to issue a notice to commercial aviation and maritime shipping so they can avoid the area.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se told parliament the launch could take place “any time from now on” and warned Pyongyang it could trigger a fresh round of UN sanctions.

North Korea ... missile batteries

A border crossing between North Korea and China was closed to tourist groups as the Korean peninsula edged closer to nuclear war.

An official at the Dandong Border Office, who refused to give his name, said: “Travel agencies are not allowed to take tourist groups to go there since the North Korean government is now asking foreign people to leave.”

Border ... between North Korea and China

The US believes North Korea will likely test one of its mobile ballistic missiles imminently after intelligence showed Pyongyang had completed its launch preparations.

But a US official said there was no guarantee North Korea would give any warning of its launch to civilians.

It's war ... dictator to launch missile within hours

He said: “We hope they issue a notification, but at this point we don't expect it. We are working on the assumption they won't.”

In anticipation, the South Korea US Combined Forces have raised their alert level to Watchcon 2 - a vital threat - to increase surveillance monitoring.

Testing ... the launch of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile

Watchcon 4 is in effect during normal peacetime, while Watchcon 3 reflects indications of an important threat.

Watchcon 1 is used in wartime.

Army ... North Korean soldiers

North Korea warned all foreigners to evacuate South Korea yesterday because the two countries are on the verge of a nuclear war - as Japan set up a huge new anti-missile system in Tokyo.