KOREA KASKAZINI WATANGAZA HALI YA HATARI...WATAYARISHA MAJESHI TAYARI KWA VITA

North Koreans including soldiers attend a rally in support of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's order to put its missile units on standby in preparation for a possible war against the U.S. and South Korea, in Pyongyang March 29, 2013.(Reuters / KCNA)

North Korea has entered a “state of war” against its Southern neighbor, stating that from now on any issues between the two countries will be resolved in a "wartime manner."

“From this time on, the North-South relations will be entering the state of war and all issues raised between the North and the South will be handled accordingly,” a special statement by the country’s top military command reads, according to the KCNA state news agency.

“The situation in the Korean Peninsula, which is neither peace nor war, has come to an end,” the statement says.

However, technically, the two Koreas are still in state of war since a peace treaty after the 1950-53 conflict had never been signed.

Washington "should be clear that in era of Marshal Kim Jong-un, the greatest-ever commander, all things are different from the past," went a statement on North Korean radio early Saturday.
Meanwhile the White House is taking the fresh North Korean threats seriously, but not without a bit of skepticism.

“We've seen reports of a new and unconstructive statement from North Korea,” said Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council. “We take these threats seriously and remain in close contact with our South Korean allies.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un discussing the strike plan with North Korean officers during an urgent operation meeting at the Supreme Command in an undisclosed location (AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS)