Military put on alert as tension rises with North Korea

On 18 January 2009 South Korea placed its military on alert in response to statements made by North Korea on 17 January that accused South Korean President Lee Myungbak of plotting a military operation against the North. North Korea warned of military retaliation and indicated that it would adopt "an all-out confrontational posture" toward South Korea. Experts do not believe a military confrontation is imminent, though tensions between the two countries remain escalated.