Tens of thousands of South Korean and United States troops began a military exercise simulating an all-out North Korean attack on Monday, as Pyongyang threatened a pre-emptive strike on forces participating in the drill.
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This year’s drill came amid heightened inter-Korean tension following Pyongyang’s nuclear test in January and long-range rocket launch in the following month.
Officially called “Manbang” (or “everywhere”), Variety describes the service as a state-sponsored take on Apple TV or Roku “with a much less polished interface” that allows users to watch documentaries about the North Korean government, learn Russian and English, and watch content from five North Korean TV networks.
North Korea has long denounced the joint military drill as a rehearsal for a northward invasion, a charge denied by Seoul and Washington.
The supreme leader’s lookalike was spotted all over Rio during the Olympic games taking in the sights, immersing himself in the Brazilian culture and keeping a close eye on North Korea’s athletic competition, of course.
South Korea’s unification ministry expressed strong regret over the North’s threat, saying that the military exercise has been regularly waged and is defensive in nature. “North Korea should suspend its nuclear and missile programs and make the right choice”.
Last week, North Korea’s deputy ambassador to Britain, Thae Yong-Ho, defected to the South – a rare and damaging loss of diplomatic face for Pyongyang and a major PR victory for Seoul. Those included embezzling government funds, leaking state secrets for money and raping a minor, according to the report.
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Thae’s move added to Pyongyang’s fury with the defection in April of a dozen North Korean overseas restaurant workers, who it insists were kidnapped by South Korean intelligence.
