Kim Jong Un Orders Immediate Evacuation of Pyongyang
Reports in Russian newspaper Pravda Report claim more than 600,000 people - around 25 per cent of the city’s population - are being urgently evacuated, as tensions escalate between North Korea and the United States.
According to South Korean media, residents in the kingdom have said goodbye to each other, sparking concerns the tyrannical leader could be about to act after months of nuclear weapon testing.
Foreign reporters have been told to prepare for a “big and important event" on North Korea's biggest national celebration, called ‘Day of the Sun’.
A tweet from Channel NewsAsia’s Beijing Correspondent Jeremy Koh said: “We’ve been told to be ready to move out at 6.20am, but no idea why. Also, no cell phones allowed.”
More than 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang as the country marks the 105th birthday of its founding president Kim Il Sung on April 15.
Officials in North Korea have already warned nuclear war could break out at any minute thanks to the "extremely tense" situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The US sent a navy strike group towards the Western Pacific in a show of force, with North Korea retorting with warnings of a nuclear attack in retaliation to any show of aggression.
China has also moved 150,000 soldiers close to the North Korean border in preparation for war.
The move comes after president Trump launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield in response for the country’s brutal chemical attack which left 79 civilians dead.
North Korean officials have given no clues as to the nature of the “surprise event” or where it would take place.
However, past announcements of a similar nature have turned out to be relatively low-key.
In 2016 foreign journalists underwent hours of investigation by North Korean officials ahead of what turned out to be a pop concert to mark the finale of a ruling Workers' Party congress.
However, on the 100th Day of the Sun, held in April 2012, North Korea attempted to launch a long-range rocket.
With war tensions raging, officials worldwide are wondering whether Kim Jong-un will use the special date to strike America after months of threats over nuclear weapons.
