North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday declared the country’s front-line troops on a war footing, after tensions with South Korea soared following an exchange of fire at the border.<br /><br /> Such threats from Pyongyang are common, but this time the declaration came after South Korea fired dozens of artillery rounds towards the North on Thursday.<br /><br /> The South Korean fire had come after the North had shelled across the border to protest against anti-Pyongyang broadcasts by Seoul.<br /><br /> After a lull of 11 years, the loudspeakers have restarted.<br /><br /> The North has threatened to take further action if the South does not stop the broadcasts.<br /><br /> Kim Jong Un has advised his troops to be fully ready for military operation from 5 p.m. (08.30 GMT) local time on Friday, according to North Korean state media.
