North Korea demands that the United States and South Korea stop joint military exercises

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) – North Korea on Monday demanded that the United States and South Korea halt large-scale military exercises, calling it a provocation that may draw “more powerful follow-up measures” from Pyongyang.

“The situation on the Korean Peninsula and its vicinity has entered a serious phase of power-for-power confrontation again due to the incessant and reckless military movements of the United States and South Korea,” he said. said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea in a statement brought to the official of the country. KCNA news agency.

The United States and South Korea began one of their largest ever joint military drills on Monday, with hundreds of warplanes from both sides conducting simulated attacks around the clock for the better part of a week. read more

The operation, called Vigilant Storm, will last until Friday, and will include about 240 warplanes carrying out about 1,600 sorties, the US Air Force said.

Washington and Seoul believe Pyongyang may be about to resume testing nuclear bombs for the first time since 2017 and have embraced a strategy of “deterring” Pyongyang through major military exercises that some current and former officials say could worsen and tensions. read more

The foreign ministry statement said North Korea was “ready to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, people’s security and territorial integrity from outside military threats.”

“If the United States continuously persists in serious military provocations, the DPRK will take into account the most powerful follow-up measures,” he said, using the initials of North Korea’s official name.

“If the United States does not want serious developments that are not suitable for its security interests, it must stop the useless and ineffective war exercises at once. If not, it will have to take the blame for all the consequences “.

On Friday, South Korean troops completed the 12-day Hoguk 22 field exercises, which included simulated amphibious landings and river crossings, including some exercises with US forces.

North Korea condemns the joint exercises as a test for the invasion and a test of hostile policies from Washington and Seoul. It launched missiles, conducted aerial exercises, and fired artillery into the sea in response to the exercises.

He has ignored repeated calls from the United States to resume talks on its nuclear and missile programs and has instead embarked on an unprecedented series of missile test this year.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Monday reiterated the call for North Korea to return to talks, while adding that the US policy of seeking denuclearization complete of the Korean peninsula was not changed.

He was asked at a news briefing about the comments last week by a senior US official responsible for nuclear policy who raised some eyebrows by saying that Washington would be willing to engage in arms control talks with the North Korea, something that some experts say would need to recognize North Korea. as a nuclear armed state. read more

Asked if the United States would eventually recognize North Korea as such, Price replied: “That’s not our policy. I don’t foresee it ever becoming our policy.”

Report by Doina Chiacu and David Brunnstrom; Edited by Caitlin Webber and Alistair Bell

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