Kim Jong-un orders North Korea to prepare for war and 'surprise' operations

North Korea's official news agency said the oppressive leader instructed the army to "enter a wartime state to be fully battle ready to launch surprise operations".

Kim threatened military action if the South Korean "warmaniacs" carried on pumping anti-North propaganda over the border through speakers.

Nearby towns were evacuated after the fearless dictator's military fired a missile over the border into the South yesterday.

The move prompted Seoul to fire dozens of artillery rounds back.

About 80 residents in Yeoncheon were taken to underground bunkers.

Pyongyang denied provoking the first exchange between the waring parties since October and accused the South of using "nonexistent pretext".

The North Korean military released a statement which said: "Putting forward a nonexistent pretext that our military fired a shell toward the South, warmaniacs of the South Korean puppet military engaged in the reckless act."

It threatened to take strong military action unless Seoul pulled the propaganda broadcasts in the next two days.

Pyongyang declared that Kim would put his troops on a "fully armed state of war" from 5pm on Friday.

Similar language is often used by the regime during tense times with the South.

South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement: "Our military has stepped up monitoring and is closely watching North Korean military movements."

(dailystar.co.uk)