New North Korean Threats Issued Over South Korean Protests

North Korea has issued a new round of threats to its neighbors in South Korea after a series of anti-North Korean protests were held on the 101st anniversary of its first leader Kim Il-Sung’s birthday. The new North Korean threats state that South Korea could be attacked “without any notice.”

According to Reuters, North Korea celebrated Kim Il-Sung’s birthday on Monday, while South Koreans in Seoul held a counter protest mocking North Korea’s recent threats against South Korea, Japan and the United States. Following the South Korean protests, North Korean officials released an “ultimatum” to South Korea along with a new series of threats that the communist north could attack at any time.

“The world is in a festive mood on the auspicious Day of the Sun. It is only the south Korean puppet forces who hurled a group of anti-communist gangsters into a rally against the DPRK in the heart of Seoul in broad daylight at wich they set fire to the portraits, the symbols of its supreme dignity [sic],” North Korean officials said through state media service Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday.

"Our retaliatory action will start without any notice from now as such thrice-cursed criminal act of hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK is being openly committed in the heart of Seoul under the patronage of the puppet authorities,” the statement continued.

Reuters reports that the anti-North Korean protests occurring on Kim Il-Sung’s birthday were relatively small in number but that photos were taken of some protestors burning Kim Il-Sung in effigy. This act seems to have angered North Korean authorities, leading to the new round of threats. Despite being dead, Kim Il-Sung is still considered North Korea's official head of state and is held up to the level of a diety in the small communist state.

Some South Koreans reportedly held counterprotests calling for renewed dialogue with North Korea as well on Monday, but North Korean military leaders have not responded to these protests.

According to the new North Korean threats, North Korea is standing by awaiting orders.

“The DPRK's revolutionary armed forces will start immediately their just military actions to show how the service personnel and people of the DPRK value and protect the dignity of the supreme leadership,” the KCNA press release reads.

The new North Korean threats come after nearly a month of saber-rattling from North Korean leadership. Since early March, North Korean leaders have threatened attacks -- sometimes nuclear in nature -- on South Korea, Japan, the United States and Guam.