On Friday, North Korea threatened an “unprecedentedly persistent and determined” response as South Korea and the United States prepare for annual military exercises as part of efforts to counter growing nuclear and missile threats from the North.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the United States of fomenting tensions and using the UN Security Council as an “instrument of illegal hostile policy” to put pressure on Pyongyang.
This year, North Korea has “avoided any special military action” other than conventional action, but planned allied exercises would create a “major escalation funnel,” the ministry said.
“If the US choice is to show its muscles and resist everything with its muscles, then so will the choice of North Korea,” the ministry said in a statement released by state media KCNA.
The ministry used the abbreviation of the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: “If the United States and South Korea implement their already announced plan for military exercises, which the DPRK … considers preparation for an aggressive war, they will face unprecedented persistent and strong side effects,” it said in a statement. statement.
The ministry also warned that if the Security Council continues to be “controlled” by Washington, it will reconsider additional actions outside of normal military activities, without going into details.
The announcement comes less than two hours after South Korea announced a joint tabletop exercise next week to improve the operation of US nuclear assets and regular exercises next spring.
Last year, nuclear-armed North Korea launched an unprecedented number of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could hit anywhere in the US. continues preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.
The nuclear exercise, dubbed the Deterrence Strategy Committee Armchair Exercise, is scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Pentagon and will involve senior military politicians from both sides, according to the Seoul Defense Ministry.
Source: Reuters.
Source: Kathimerini
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