World IN BRIEF : NORTH KOREA : Envoy Rattles Saber Over Military Games

Ri Tcheul, North Korea’s ambassador at U.N. European headquarters in Geneva, said war with South Korea could erupt “at any moment.” Ri said bullets and shells were being fired “toward our side” during U.S.-South Korean military exercises, creating a “hair-trigger” situation. Ri’s statement was the most outspoken since his country declared itself on a “semi-war” footing last week. It came shortly after the United Nations scolded Ri for his government’s decision to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.