South Korea calls for reduced tensions

(Vatican Radio) South Korea on Thursday responded to North Korea over its recent animosity, demanding that it ease some of the tensions.

Meanwhile, a senior U.S. commander has spoken of the military action North Korea might decide to take.

On a day when North Koreans marked the founding anniversary of their country's military, a force Pyongyang says is poised to attack other nations, South Korea's government said its patience is wearing thin.

One minister threatened "grave measures" if the North doesn't talk soon about resuming work at a joint industrial zone that makes South Korean garments and electronics with North Korean labour. Pyongyang has withdrawn its 53-thousand workers, without explanation.

South Korea's president said how that standoff plays out may indicate the future for South-North relations.

Meanwhile, speaking here in Tokyo, the chairman of the U-S Joint Chiefs of Staff said, at a time of North Korean talk of war, U.S. troops are ready. "The best way to avoid war is to prepare for it,” said General Martin Dempsey. He said those preparations include monitoring possible small-scale actions by North Korea. "If there's a provocation, a tactical provocation, artillery, a naval encounter, special operations force that's a tactical provocation on the peninsula and we are prepared for it."

The general was speaking at a U.S. airbase in Tokyo after visiting China, where, separately, he said he encouraged better U.S.-China military relations.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn, reporting from Tokyo: