Amid social media chatter of Pyongyang evacuations, North Korea told foreign journalists to prepare for a "big and important event" on Thursday (ahead of The Day of The Sun) - conjuring images of nuclear missile tests or Supreme-leader-led military drills. However, the "big and important event" turned out to be... a street opening!
If you weren't scared before, Japanese PM Abe just stepped up to the global fearmongery plate, announcing in parliament that "there is a possibility that North Korea already has a capability to deliver missiles with sarin as warheads."
S&P futures extended their Wednesday decline, dropping in the overnight session with banking shares in focus ahead of results from JPMorgan and Citigroup. European stocks likewise retreated along with the dollar, while Asian shares were mixed.
In a striking development involving the rapidly changing North Korean geopolitical situation, moments ago Voice of America reporter Steve Herman stated that according to US government and other sources, North Korea has "apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM Korea time."
US gov’t and other sources say #DPRK has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday AM #Korea time.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) April 12, 2017
According to the otherwise credible UPI, or United Press International, China has ordered its military to be on nationwide alert, in addition to areas near the North Korea border, as tensions escalate on the peninsula.