The United States and South Korea were on high alert for a North Korean missile launch on Thursday as the North turned its attention to celebrating its ruling Kim dynasty and appeared to tone down its provocative rhetoric, NBC News reported. Despite threats it will attack U.S. bases and South Korea in response to any hostile acts, North Korea started to welcome visitors for Monday's celebrations of its founder, Kim Il Sung. North Korea has stationed as many as five medium-range missiles on its east coast, according to defense assessments from Washington and Seoul, possibly in readiness for a test launch. Most observers say Pyongyang has no intention of igniting a conflict that could bring on its own destruction but warn of the risks of miscalculation by its young, untested leader, Kim Jong Un.
