Although tensions remain high surrounding the present threats of war in Korea, foreign governments with representatives in Pyongyang are attempting to maintain calm. On April 6, 2013, the BBC reported, North Korea: Embassies stay despite security warning. Warnings from Kim Jong-un's government over their safety have been played down by foreign embassies in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
North Korea warned it would not be able to guarantee the safety of embassy staff in the event that a war breaks out, on Friday. In response to this warning the UK Foreign Office, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, described the warning as simply being continuing rhetoric. US and South Korean officials have also sought to play down fears of a conflict on the Korean peninsula in recent days. As of this time there are no foreign embassies with plans to evacuate, and UK and Russian embassies have said that they have no immediate plans to shut their embassies.
Jane Chung of Reuters has reported for Yahoo News, Embassies staying put in North Korea despite tension. As foreign governments made a decision to remain in Pyongyang at this time and hope a war does not break out, Seoul has remained calm. Nevertheless, China's Xinhua news agency on Friday quoted North Korea's Foreign Ministry as saying the issue was no longer whether but when a war would break out. This is an extremely volatile situation. Pyongyang should understand the losses of lives and property damage will certainly be just as catastrophic for North Korea as for South Korea and its allies if hostilities occur in Korea, and emergency hot lines with the South should be reopened. All initiatives for peace should not lose momentum at this critical time.
