North Korea ‘Suspends’ Plan To Fire Missiles On U.S Territory Of Guam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reviewed a plan to fire four missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam but decided to put on hold, state media, KCNA, said on Tuesday.

The North said it would wait and see what “the foolish Yankees” do next before taking a decision.

The decision comes hours after US Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned that if Pyongyang fired a missile towards Guam, “then it’s game on.”

He told reporters that the US military would defend the country “from any attack, at any time and from any quarter”.

He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that they were well-protected and if a missile was fired, “we’ll take it out”.

The KCNA report Tuesday said Kim had “examined the (strike) plan for a long time and discussed it with the commanding officers in real earnest.”

The commander of North Korea’s strategic force was now merely waiting for orders “after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam”.

The statement, appears to be referring to President Trump and the U.S military, said Kim would “watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees.”

Analysts however say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so it could just be buying more time.

This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words between Washington and Pyongyang.

Kim is reportedly angered by the US joint military drills with South Korea, known as the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, which are scheduled to start August 21.

The North believes they are preparations for an invasion, with both the U.S and Seoul saying the exercises are defensive in nature.

South Korea and China – North Korea’s closest ally – have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions.

On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in played down any act of war, pointing out the US would need its approval before launching any attack on North Korea.

In televised comments, Moon said that “military action on the Korean Peninsula can only be decided by South Korea and no one else can decide to take military action without the consent of South Korea.”

“The government, putting everything on the line, will block war by all means,” he added.

China’s foreign ministry on Monday reiterated its “suspension for suspension proposal” where North Korea stops its missile tests in exchange for a freeze on military exercises by the US and South Korea, according to the BBC.