The US government insists it is a peaceful war game to help its ally South Korea with its defences.
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North Korea’s warning from its state media outlet KCNA says that the USA and South Korea should bear in mind that if they show the slightest sign of aggression, North Korea would turn the South into a ‘heap of ashes through a Korean-style pre-emptive nuclear strike’.
U.S. -South Korean military exercises aren’t what causes North Korea to act aggressively, according to a new study.
The annually-held Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) will be conducted from August 22 to September 2, Combined Forces Command said in a press release.
“UFG is created to enhance Alliance readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula”, USFK said.
25,000 U.S. soldiers are expected to take part in the exercises.
North Korea is developing a nuclear program despite global sanctions against the initiative, though its exact capabilities are a cause of much speculation.
Since then, Pyongyang has shut down two existing hotlines with South Korea – one used by the military and one for government-to-government communications.
Each year, South Korea and the United States conduct a number of joint military drills that they claim to be of defensive nature.
Ahead of the military drills earlier this month, Pyongyang accused Washington of planning to “invade” the North. It was lower than last year’s 30,000 United States forces.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye, second from left, presides over a session of the National Security Council at the presidential house in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 22, 2016.
The January nuclear test heightened North Korea’s isolation as the global community, backed by the North’s main diplomatic protector China, imposed substantially upgraded economic sanctions.
The drills come just days after Seoul announced that Thae Yong Ho, No 2 at the North’s embassy in London, had recently defected to South Korea because he was disillusioned with the North’s leadership.
In response, the North’s official news agency described the defector as “human scum” and said he had fled to avoid criminal charges including embezzling funds and raping a minor.
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Thae’s defection followed the flight to Seoul this year of 12 waitresses from a North Korean restaurant in China.
