North Korea banned South Korean workers from the jointly run Kaesong industrial zone (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17504854-despite-rhetoric-from-north-south-koreans-carry-on?lite) Wednesday in the latest escalation (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/03/17580610-north-korea-blocks-south-from-shared-kaesong-zone-as-crisis-deepens?lite) of the diplomatic crisis surrounding the rogue nuclear state.
The news came as China expressed "serious concern" to U.S. diplomats over the worsening crisis, which has already prompted the U.S. Navy to deploy a second destroyer in the western Pacific to respond to any missile threats from the North.
NBC News’ Jim Maceda is in Seoul, South Korea reporting on the heightened tensions on the peninsula. Earlier today he responded to reader questions about the tensions.
Click on the box below to replay the informative chat. LIVE CHAT: Jim Maceda on North Korea Related links: North Korea blocks South from shared Kaesong zone as crisis deepens (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/03/17580610-north-korea-blocks-south-from-shared-kaesong-zone-as-crisis-deepens?lite)Nuclear-capable stealth bombers sent to South Korea amid Kim Jong Un's threats (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17498063-nuclear-capable-stealth-bombers-sent-to-south-korea-amid-kim-jong-uns-threats?lite)North Korea puts rocket units on 'highest alert,' issues new threats to US (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/26/17467525-north-korea-puts-rocket-units-on-highest-alert-issues-new-threats-against-us?lite)Kim Jong Un threatens attack on US bases in Pacific (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/20/17387755-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-threatens-attack-on-us-bases-in-pacific?lite)Full North Korea coverage from NBC News (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/north-korea) NBC News