North Korea orders military to be 'ready for war' after border dispute with South Korea

North Korea is preparing its front line troops for a "wartime state" after a recent exchange of shellfire with neighbouring South Korea, according to state media in the country.

In the televised broadcast, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly ordered troops to be "fully ready for any military operations at any time" from 17:00 Friday local time (08:30 GMT, 09:30 UK time), at an emergency meeting of the central military commission.

Images of Kim Jong-un were set on fire during an anti-North Korean rally in Seoul. Credit: Reuters
The North Korean flag was also set alight as South Koreans took to the streets to protest. Credit: Reuters

This potential escalation in regional tensions comes after North Korea opened fire at a series of loudspeakers operated by its neighbour that were broadcasting propaganda messages across the border.

South Korea retaliated by firing artillery rounds towards North Korea, reportedly provoking Pyongyang to raise military readiness.

Fierce rhetoric and grand statements are not unusual in the region. Credit: Reuters

Seoul has promised to "powerfully counter-attack any North Korean provocations", the Yonhap news agency report.

An effigy of Kim Jong-un and a North Korean flag were set on fire during an anti-North Korean rally in Seoul.