PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - A U.S. guided-missile submarine arrived in South Korea on Tuesday and envoys from the U.S., Japan and South Korea met in Tokyo, as North Korea marked the anniversary of the founding of its military.

Though experts thought a nuclear test or ballistic missile launch was possible around the anniversary, the morning came and went without either. South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing a South Korean government source, reported that North Korea instead appeared to have held a major live-fire drill in the Wonsan city area.

Crowds in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, laid flowers and paid respects at giant statues of the country's former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, one day after the minister of defense reiterated that North is ready to use pre-emptive strikes or any other measures it deems necessary to defend itself against the "U.S. imperialists."

"The situation prevailing on the Korean peninsula is so tense that a nuclear war may break out due to the frantic war drills of the U.S. imperialists and their vassal forces for aggression," Gen. Pak Yong Sik said at a "national meeting" of thousands of senior military and civilian officials.

South Korea's military said it's closely watching North Korean troop movement around Wonsan, but didn't confirm the Yonhap report, which cited an unnamed source to report that the North carried out an exercise involving 300 to 400 artillery pieces.

The streets of Pyongyang were quiet. Flower-laying and bowing at statues and portraits of the leaders is a regular routine on major anniversaries. Groups of people also gathered in open spaces around the city to take part in organized dancing sessions, another common way of marking holidays in North Korea.

"Our great leaders founded and wisely led our revolutionary army, and just like that, now our respected Marshal Kim Jong Un is leading wisely, so even though the situation is tense, we are celebrating the day," said Choe Un Byol, who had come with his family to the bronze statues of the former leaders.

North Korea often marks significant dates by displaying its military capability and has conducted five nuclear tests. Pyongyang launched a missile one day after the 105th birthday of late founder Kim Il Sung on April 15.

Recent U.S. commercial satellite images indicate increased activity around North Korea's nuclear test site, and third-generation dictator Kim Jong Un has said the country's preparation for an ICBM launch is in its "final stage."

South Korea's Defense Ministry has said North Korea appears ready to conduct such "strategic provocations" at any time. South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the country's acting leader, has instructed his military to strengthen its "immediate response posture" in case North Korea does something significant on Tuesday's anniversary.

The nuclear-powered USS Michigan submarine arrived at Busan in what was described as a routine port visit to rest the crew and load supplies. Cmdr. Jang Wook from the South Korean navy public affairs office said there is no plan for any drill.

The submarine's arrival comes as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier heads toward the Korean Peninsula for a joint exercise with South Korea around the weekend.

Despite the buildup, President Donald Trump has reportedly settled on a strategy that emphasizes increased pressure on North Korea with the help of China, the North's only major ally, instead of military options or trying to overthrow North Korea's government.

Trump has told ambassadors from U.N. Security Council member countries that they must be prepared to impose additional and stronger sanctions on North Korea.

"This is a real threat to the world, whether we want to talk about it or not," Trump said at a White House meeting Monday. "North Korea is a big world problem, and it's a problem we have to finally solve. People have put blindfolds on for decades, and now it's time to solve the problem."

Nikki Haley, Trump's U.N. ambassador, said the U.S. isn't looking for a fight with Kim and wouldn't attack North Korea "unless he gives us reason to do something." She praised China's increased pressure on North Korea.

Asked about the threshold for U.S. action, Haley told American broadcaster NBC that "if you see him attack a military base, if you see some sort of intercontinental ballistic missile, then obviously we're going to do that."

But asked what if North Korea tests an intercontinental missile or nuclear device, she said: "I think then the president steps in and decides what's going to happen."

U.S. representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun met Tuesday with his Japanese counterpart Kenji Kanasugi and Kim Hong-kyun of South Korea. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the three envoys were to deepen cooperation and ensure their countries stay on the same page amid growing tension.

Japan's Foreign Ministry also announced that China's envoy for North Korea, Wu Dawei, is arriving in Tokyo on Tuesday for talks with Kanasugi, which may take place later this week.

Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi and Ken Moritsugu in Tokyo and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.</s>Image copyright Reuters Image caption Tension is high following a massive military parade and missile test

An American citizen has been detained in North Korea as he tried to leave the country, South Korean media say.

The man was identified only by his surname, Kim.

He becomes the third American to be detained by the North; one has been sentenced for spying, the other for trying to steal a sign from a hotel.

The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its "strategic patience" on the North's nuclear programme is over.

A US naval battle group headed by an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and described by President Donald Trump as an "armada", is expected to reach the Korean peninsula later in the week.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the detained American citizen, in his 50s, was a former professor from Yanbian University in China and had been in North Korea for a month in connection with relief programmes.

He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport, Yonhap said.

In January last year, US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea.

He was given 15 years' hard labour for crimes against the state in March 2016.

In April last year, Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour for spying. He had been arrested the previous October.

Image copyright AP Image caption Kim Dong-chul was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour

The US has in the past accused North Korea of detaining its citizens to use them as pawns.

After the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was murdered recently in Malaysia, Malaysian citizens in Pyongyang were not allowed to leave the country until North Koreans suspected of the murder were released in Kuala Lumpur.

Tension remains high on the peninsula following the North's recent failed missile test and massive military parade showing off its latest hardware.

North Korea has said it is ready to sink the Carl Vinson, and on Sunday said it would strike Australia with nuclear weapons if it remained an ally of the United States.

North Korea's aim is to develop nuclear weapons small enough to put on ballistic missiles, but there is no evidence yet it has done so, or that it has missiles with the range to reach long-distance targets.

This week US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on a tour of Asian nations, said the US was "reviewing all the status of North Korea, both in terms of state sponsorship of terrorism as well as the other ways in which we can bring pressure on the regime in Pyongyang".

North Korean media responded by warning of an unspecified "super-mighty pre-emptive strike".

Timeline of recent tensions</s>SEOUL, April 23 (Reuters) - North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported, bringing the total number of Americans held by the isolated country to three.

The man, a Korean-American in his fifties identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said on Sunday. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

North Korea, which has been criticised for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations. (Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Paul Tait)</s>North Korea detained a US citizen on Friday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, bringing the total number of Americans held by the isolated country to three.

The man, a Korean-American in his fifties identified only by his surname Kim, had been in North Korea for a month to discuss relief activities, Yonhap said today. He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country.

The man was a former professor at Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST), Yonhap said, citing unnamed sources. YUST, a university in neighboring China, has a sister university in Pyongyang.

An official at South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it was not aware of the reported arrest. Calls to YUST went unanswered.

North Korea, which has been criticized for its human rights record, has in the past used detained Americans to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea was already holding two Americans.

Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, was detained in January last year and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor by a North Korean court for attempting to steal a propaganda banner.

In March 2016, Korean-American Kim Dong Chul, 62, was sentenced to 10 years hard labor for subversion.

U.S. missionary Kenneth Bae was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for crimes against the state.

He was released two years later.</s>North Korean authorities have reportedly detained a U.S. citizen, raising the total number of Americans known to be detained in North Korea to three and potentially deepening animosities between Washington and Pyongyang at an already-tense moment.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, which first reported the detention on Sunday, identified the man as a Korean American in his late 50s with the surname of Kim. North Korean authorities detained him at Pyongyang International Airport on his way out of the country Saturday, the agency reported, citing unidentified sources. The reason for his detention is unclear.

Kim is a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology, a research university in China’s Jilin province, which borders North Korea; he was in the isolated country for about a month “to discuss relief activities,” Yonhap reported.

The agency said that South Korea’s national intelligence agency was unaware of the detention.

Martina Aberg, deputy head of mission for the Swedish Embassy in North Korea, confirmed the detention to CNN on Sunday. "We have been informed and can confirm that there has been a detention of a U.S. citizen Saturday morning local," she said. "He was prevented from getting on the flight out of Pyongyang. We don't comment further than this.”

In the absence of a U.S. embassy in North Korea, Sweden handles consular matters involving U.S. citizens there.

The State Department issued a statement Sunday saying it was “aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was detained in North Korea,” and that it was working with the Swedish Embassy. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” the statement said.

North Korea is working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the U.S., and analysts say it could soon conduct its sixth-ever nuclear test. The U.S., in response to rising tensions, has dispatched the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson toward the Korean peninsula. It is expected to arrive later this week.

Previously, the Trump administration had said the naval strike group led by the Vinson was headed to North Korea when it was, at the time, headed in the opposite direction.

North Korean state media said on Sunday that the country is ready to “sink” the Carl Vinson “with a single strike.” On Friday, it said it would launch a nuclear strike against Australia if it doesn't stop “blindly and zealously toeing the U.S. line.”

More than 10 U.S. citizens have been detained in North Korea since 2009, according to Yonhap. Two remain in the country; others have been released after visits to Pyongyang by prominent Americans.

In March, 2016, North Korea sentenced Otto Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, to 15 years of labor for attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel. He had been in North Korea as a tourist, on a five-day visit.

North Korean state media accused him of entering the country with the intent of “bringing down the foundation of its single-minded unity.”

The following month, North Korea sentenced Kim Dong Chul, 62, a South Korean-born naturalized American citizen, to 10 years’ hard labor for espionage.

A Canadian pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, has also been held in the country since early 2015.

Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report.

For more news from Asia, follow @JRKaiman on Twitter

North Korea on a bun: What the legendary Koryo Burger tells us about the isolated nation, and ourselves

There's no such thing as a failed missile launch: Lessons from North Korea, the post-truth capital of the world</s>There are now three Americans detained in North Korea.</s>PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, officials said Sunday, bringing to three the number of Americans now being held there.

Tony Kim, who also goes by his Korean name Kim Sang-duk, was detained on Saturday, according to Park Chan-mo, the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology.

Park said Kim, who is 58, taught accounting at the university for about a month. He said Kim was detained by officials as he was trying to leave the country from Pyongyang’s international airport. A university spokesman said he was trying to leave with his wife on a flight to China.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the United States in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

The State Department said it was aware of the report about a U.S. citizen being detained, but declined further comment “due to privacy considerations.”

Park said Kim had taught at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China before coming to Pyongyang. He said he was informed that the detention had “nothing to do” with Kim’s work at the university but did not know further details.

As of Sunday night, North Korea’s official media had not reported on the detention.

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is the only privately funded university in North Korea. It held its first classes in 2010. It is unique in the North for its large number of foreign staff.

Colin McCulloch, the director of external affairs, said the university was not under investigation and was continuing its normal operations. He said he could not immediately confirm Kim’s hometown.

Though no details on why Kim was detained have been released, the detention comes at a time of unusually heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Both countries have recently been trading threats of war and having another American in jail will likely up the ante even further.

Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have U.S. citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.

Another foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean-born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping U.S. and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.</s>recently detained a US citizen, officials said today, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

 

 The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of a being detained recently, but could not comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the US in because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a Korean-American man was arrested Friday at Pyongyang's airport while trying to leave It said the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, has been involved in aid and relief programs to and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.South Korea's Unification Ministry and its intelligence agency both said they were unable to confirm the report.At least two other Americans are currently detained in Last year, Otto Warmbier, then a 21-year-old University of Virginia student from suburban Cincinnati, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in prison after he confessed to trying to steal a propaganda banner. Kim Dong Chul, who was born in South Korea but is also believed to have US citizenship, is serving a sentence of 10 years for espionage.At least one other foreigner, a Canadian pastor, is also being detained in Hyeon Soo Lim, a South Korean- born Canadian citizen in his 60s, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 on charges of trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system and helping US and South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens.</s>North Korea recently detained a U.S. citizen at Pyongyang's airport as he was about to leave the country, officials said on April 23.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, said that the man, in his late 50s and identified by his surname, Kim, was doing aid work and was a former professor at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China.

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said it was aware of the detention of a Korean-American citizen, but could not comment further.

The United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, so the Swedish Embassy looks after consular affairs.

The reported arrest comes as tensions rise between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

At least two other Americans are currently detained in North Korea.

Based on reporting by dpa and AFP</s>N.Korea detains US citizen; at least 3rd American being held

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Officials say North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen, in the latest case of an American being held in the country.

 

The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang said Sunday it was aware of a Korean-American citizen being detained recently, but couldn't comment further. The embassy looks after consular affairs for the U.S. in North Korea because the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.

 

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that a former Korean-American professor was arrested in North Korea on Friday at Pyongyang's international airport while trying to exit the country. It said the man has been involved in aid and relief programs to North Korea.

 

South Korea officials said they were unable to confirm the report.

 

At least two other Americans are detained in North Korea.
Yonhap reports that North Korea has detained a U.S. citizen as he sought to leave the country.