North Korea announces 'state of war' against South Korea

North Korea announced it has entered a "state of war" against South Korea, and also has rocket units on standby to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea.

In this undated photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 in Tokyo by the Korea News Service, North Korean leader...
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North Korea announced it has entered a "state of war" against South Korea, and also has rocket units on standby to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea.

According to NBC News:

North Korea put its rocket units on standby Friday to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after repeated threats one day after two American stealth bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in a military exercise.A U.S. official warned that the isolated communist state is “not a paper tiger” and its reaction should not be dismissed as “pure bluster.”According to South Korea's news agency, Yonhap, North Korea announced Saturday that it had entered a state of war against South Korea. "In a special statement, the North said it will deal with every inter-Korean issue in a wartime manner," Yonhap reported. NBC News could not immediately confirm.

The White House responded early Friday to recent threats from North Korea, saying the U.S. "has both the capability and willingness to defend its interests in the region." The administration asked Pyongyang to end its "bellicose rhetoric."

For additional updates, visit NBCNews.com.