The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) gave the order to fully prepare artillery formations near the border line for firing. This was reported by the Korean Central News Agency.
“Representative [Министерства обороны КНДР] announced the preliminary operational order of the Korean People’s Army General Staff of October 12, according to which artillery formations near the border line and units responsible for carrying out an important fire mission must be fully prepared to fire.” . – says the message cited by TASS.
The order, according to a Defense Ministry official, refers to eight artillery brigades staffed at war levels. They were ordered to be fully prepared, so they would only have to wait for the order to open fire, at 20:00 local time (14:00 Moscow time) on October 13.
The KPA General Staff ordered units and subunits at all levels to strengthen surveillance and guard duties, and air defense observation points in the DPRK capital Pyongyang have been reinforced.