North Korea enters 'state of war' with South

North Korea has said it is entering a "state of war" with South Korea in its latest escalation of rhetoric against its southern neighbour and the US.

A statement promised "stern physical actions" against "any provocative act".
North Korea has threatened attacks almost daily after it was sanctioned for a third nuclear test in February. It has also reacted angrily to annual US-South Korean military exercises.

However, few think the North would risk a full-blown war.

North and South Korea have technically been at war since the armed conflict between them ended in 1953, because an armistice was never turned into a peace treaty.
The North carried out its third nuclear test on 12 February, which led to the imposition of fresh sanctions.

Many analysts believe that all-out war with South Korea and its ally the United States would be suicidal for Pyongyang, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul.,
But with both sides threatening heavy retaliation, there's a chance of minor incidents escalating, our correspondent adds.

Read more from source: BBC