S-Korea warships ' to keep track of missiles '

5 April 2013 Last update on 03: 25 ET

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Tension between the two Koreas is at the highest level in years

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South Korea has deployed two warships with missile-defense systems, reports say, a day after the North moved apparently a rocket to the East Coast.

Military officials told South Korean media that the two warships would be deployed on East and west coasts.

Seoul has sought to downplay the North's latest move, saying they can prepare for a missile test.

In recent weeks the North has ramped up its rhetoric and specific threats to focus on American territory.

One of the objectives that named by Pyongyang was the Pacific island of Guam, which hosts an American military base.

The United States on Thursday confirmed that it would deploy a missile-defense system to Guam in response to the threats.

"The movements we make are designed to ensure and to ensure the American people and our allies that we can defend the United States," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.