North Korea condemned the large-scale joint military exercises planned between the South Korean and US armies, describing them as a "direct military provocation" and warned of a response, despite signs of easing tensions along the border under new leadership in Seoul.
اضافة اعلان
North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol stated that the army bears a "fundamental mission" to defend national security in the face of the extensive 11-day exercises between South Korea and the US, which he said pose a real and serious threat.
No said in a statement released by the North Korean Central News Agency on Monday:
"The armed forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will deal firmly and resolutely with the war exercises of the United States and (South Korea), exercising their right to safeguard sovereignty with all their might."
South Korea and the United States announced last week that the annual exercises would begin on August 18, aimed at testing command control and troop mobilization as part of a reinforced security strategy against the increasing threat of a nuclear war by North Korea.
The two sides stated that much of the field training would be postponed and conducted separately next month, citing weather conditions.
The postponement is widely seen as an initiative by the liberal South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who won early elections in June, to ease tensions with Pyongyang.
Relations between the Koreas have deteriorated to unprecedented levels in recent years amid North Korea’s continued development of offensive nuclear capabilities and strengthening of military ties with Russia.
— (Reuters)
