North Korea on Friday threatened an “unprecedentedly sustained and forceful” response as South Korea and the United States prepared to hold annual military exercises as part of efforts to fend off growing nuclear and missile threats to Pyongyang.
What came in the statement of the North Korean Foreign Ministry?
- North Korea “has refrained from any special military action this year except for normal activities,” the ministry said, but the exercises scheduled for the two allies are leading to a “dangerous spiral of escalating tension.”
- If the choice of the United States is to show its strength and confront everything with force, the same applies to the choices of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
- The statement warned that “if the United States and South Korea carry out the already announced military exercise plan, which the DPRK considers… preparations to launch an aggressive war, they will face unprecedentedly strong and sustained responses.”
- The ministry warned that if the Security Council continues to be “misled” by Washington, North Korea will reconsider additional measures beyond normal military activities, without elaborating.
The statement came less than two hours following South Korea announced joint simulated exercises next week and regular spring exercises next month.
The defense ministry in Seoul reported that the nuclear drill, called the Deterrence Strategy Committee Simulation Exercise, is scheduled to take place on February 22 at the Pentagon and will involve top defense policymakers from both sides.
