North Korea has repeated a threat to respond to the U.S. South Korean military exercise as its claims are an invasion rehearsal. Meanwhile, the U.S. insists that the drills were purely defensive to maintain the South’s security.
Ned Price of the State Department reported in Washington that they have long maintained the United States harbors no hostile intent towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He further added that they support inter-Korean dialogue, engagement and will continue to work with their partners (South Korea) towards that end as reported to AsiaOne News.
On Wednesday, the state media released a statement that stated that the senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol condemned South Korea for continuing the allied drills. Kim also warned of unspecified counteractions that would make Seoul realize by the minute that it had walked into the security crisis. Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong said the drills were the most vivid expression of the U.S. hostile policy towards North Korea. She further said that North Korea will work faster to strengthen its preemptive strike capabilities. Asia News stated that they have not confirmed when the drills will take place and other details are also yet to be realized. However, according to the local media, the preliminary training might take place this week to set up larger computer-simulated drills on August 16-26.
