An organization of North Korean defectors says that all soldiers in North Korea have been ordered to maintain a wartime posture.

Quoting a source in the North, “NK Intellectual Solidarity,” an organization of defectors from North Korea, said on its Web site that the order was made in a statement issued in the name of O Kuk-ryol, vice chairman of North Korea’s National Defense Commission.

The order has affected all North Korean intelligence, military and quasi-military organizations including the Department of State Security, the Korean People's Army, the Young Red Guards and the Worker-Peasant Red Guards.

The statement was issued by a North Korean radio network at around 7 p.m. on May 20th, following South Korea’s announcement of probe results on the sinking of the “Cheonan” naval vessel.

A senior South Korean government official said Seoul is analyzing the authenticity of the statement.