Chinese military on high alert over North Korean threat

China has put military forces on high alert in the northeastern part of the country, as tensions mount on the Korean peninsula following recent threats by Pyongyang to attack, U.S. officials have said. The move also comes specifically after North Korea`s declaration of a `state of war` and threats to conduct missile attacks against the United States and South Korea.

Officials said the PLA has stepped up military mobilization in the border region with North Korea since mid-March, including troop movements and warplane activity, the Washington Times reports. According to the report, China`s navy also conducted live-firing naval drills by warships in the Yellow Sea that were set to end on Monday near the Korean peninsula, in apparent support of North Korea, which was angered by ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills that are set to continue throughout April. North Korea, meanwhile, is mobilizing missile forces, including road-mobile short- and medium-range missiles, according to officials familiar with satellite imagery of missile bases. North Korea`s government announced last week that since March 26 its missile and artillery forces have been placed on the highest alert status, the report added. (ANI)