North Korea strongly threatened a response over joint US-South Korean military drills, describing this step as preparation for war against them. The strong warning came before the tabletop exercise next week in Washington where two allies will meet and discuss responses to the use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang. While North Korea strongly condemned this step by South Korea and described it as preparation for an invasion of North Korea.
It regards the exercises planned for this year ‘with just apprehension and reason… as preparations for an aggression war’. If Washington and Seoul go ahead with the drills, ‘they will face unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions’.”
A spokesperson for the North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement .
South Korea has strengthened its military drills with the United States that had been cut back during the 2020 Covid Pandemic. They had also been paused for a bout of ill-fated diplomacy with Pyongyang under his predecessor.
The South Korean government is eager to convince the nervous South Korean public of Washington’s commitment to deter Pyongyang. Be sure that Pyongyang itself is an “irreversible” nuclear power and tested a record number of weapons last year.
The exercise next week will focus on ‘joint planning, joint management and joint response with Washington’s nuclear assets’ in case of a nuclear attack by Pyongyang.”
South Korean defense ministry official told AFP.
Pyongyang’s aggressive statement reflects the significance of this drill. The exercise will be an important criterion for the extent to which the US nuclear arsenal will be involved in deterring North Korea.”
Yang Moo-jin-a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
Pyongyang has repeatedly said it is not interested in talks. While Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader recently called for a rapid increase in his country’s nuclear arsenal.
